The Effect of Antimalarial Campaigns on Child Mortality and Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa

Joshua Wilde, Bénédicte Apouey, Joseph Coleman and Gabriel Picone ()
Additional contact information
Joseph Coleman: University of South Florida
Gabriel Picone: University of South Florida

No 13777, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We examine the extent to which recent declines in child mortality and fertility in Sub- Saharan Africa can be attributed to insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs). Exploiting the rapid increase in ITNs since the mid-2000s, we employ a difference-in-differences estimation strategy to identify the causal effect of ITNs on mortality and fertility. We show that the ITN distribution campaigns reduced all-cause child mortality, but surprisingly increased total fertility rates in the short run in spite of reduced desire for children and increased contraceptive use. We explain this paradox in two ways. First, we show evidence for an unexpected increase in fecundity and sexual activity due to the better health environment after the ITN distribution. Second, we show evidence that the effect on fertility is positive only temporarily – lasting only 1-3 years after the beginning of the ITN distribution programs – and then becomes negative. Taken together, these results suggest the ITN distribution campaigns may have caused fertility to increase unexpectedly and temporarily, or that these increases may just be a tempo effect – changes in fertility timing which do not lead to increased completed fertility.

Keywords: Sub-Saharan Africa; fertility; child mortality; bed nets; Malaria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I15 J13 O10 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 62 pages
Date: 2020-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-dem, nep-dev and nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The effect of antimalarial campaigns on child mortality and fertility in sub-Saharan Africa (2019)
Working Paper: The Effect of Antimalarial Campaigns on Child Mortality and Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa (2019)
Working Paper: The Effect of Antimalarial Campaigns on Child Mortality and Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa (2019)
Working Paper: The Effect of Antimalarial Campaigns on Child Mortality and Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa (2017)
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