Eradicating diseases: The effect of conditional cash transfers on vaccination coverage in rural Nicaragua.
Despite significant global efforts to improve vaccination coverage against major childhood diseases, vaccination rates are below 90%. To eradicate diseases such as measles, however, vaccination rates close to 95% are needed. We use a randomized experiment to investigate the effect of a demand incentive, a conditional cash transfer program, in improving vaccination coverage in rural Nicaragua. Double-difference estimates show the program led to large increases in vaccination coverage, and these resulted in vaccination levels greater than 95% for some vaccines. Effects were especially large for children who are typically harder to reach with traditional supply-side interventions.
Barham
Tania
T
University of Colorado at Boulder, Department of Economics and Institute of Behavioral Science, 483 UCB, Boulder, CO 80304-0483, USA. tania.barham@colorado.edu
Maluccio
John A
JA
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009042:Motivation; D009527:Nicaragua; D011203:Poverty; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012423:Rural Health