Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark

Abstract

We evaluate the impact of a nationwide public health intervention on deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), using population data from Denmark in a regression discontinuity research design. The information campaign—implemented primarily through a universal nurse home visiting program—reduced infant mortality by 17.2 percent and saved between 11.6-13.5 lives over 10,000 births. The estimated effect sizes are 11-14 times larger among low birthweight and preterm infants relative to the overall population. Improvement in infant mortality is concentrated among those with low socio-economic status and with limited access to health information, thereby reducing health inequities at birth.

Citation: Onur Altindağ, Jane Greve, Erdal Tekin; Public Health Policy at Scale: Impact of a Government-Sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark. The Review of Economics and Statistics 2022; doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/rest_a_01211

Posted on:
January 1, 0001
Length:
1 minute read, 130 words
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