Politics & Governance / Public Policy / Healthcare Policy

The Impact of Deworming Treatment on Student Health and Attendance in Kenya

Nobel Prize in Economics Papers Series： The Impact of Deworming Treatment on Student Health and Attendance in Kenya: This study assessed the impact of a school deworming program in Kenya on children's health and education. Through randomized trials at the school level, researchers found that deworming treatment not only improved the condition of children directly receiving the treatment but also generated significant positive externalities, reducing infection rates among untreated neighboring students. The results showed that the program reduced school absenteeism by a quarter, and its cost-effectiveness far exceeded other interventions aimed at increasing enrollment. While deworming significantly improved student health and attendance, the study did not find a significant improvement in academic test scores. Based on the substantial external benefits, the authors argue that governments should fully fund such medical interventions to promote public health and human capital investment.