Expanding Access to Clean Water for the Rural Poor: Experimental Evidence from Malawi

Pascaline Dupas, Basimenye Nhlema, Zachary Wagner, Aaron Wolf and Emily Wroe

No 15095, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Using data from an 18-month randomized trial, we estimate large and sustained impacts on water purification and child health of a program providing monthly coupons for free water treatment solution (diluted chlorine) to households with young children. The program is more effective and much more cost-effective than asking Community Health Workers (CHWs) to distribute free chlorine to households during routine monthly visits. That is because only 40% of households make use of free chlorine, targeting through CHWs is worse than self-targeting through coupon redemption, and water treatment promotion by CHWs does not increase chlorine use among free chlorine beneficiaries. Non- use of free chlorine is driven by households who have a protected water source and those who report that chlorine makes water taste bad.

Keywords: Community health workers; Chlorine; Targeting; Child health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 I11 I12 O12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-hea
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Expanding Access to Clean Water for the Rural Poor: Experimental Evidence from Malawi (2023)
Working Paper: Expanding Access to Clean Water for the Rural Poor: Experimental Evidence from Malawi (2020)
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