Touch for Health: An Empirical Investigation of Physical Touch as Means of Improved Health Education as Measured via WTP
Description
Leading goals in development research revolve around enhancing health and education, particularly for women, through WASH (Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation) initiatives focused on knowledge and technology adoption. Despite evidence that such efforts can increase positive health-related behaviors and improve school enrollment of adolescents (particularly girls), more research is called for to determine means by which health education can incorporate elements that better induce positive behavior changes/ technology adoption. There is evidence that the more relevant health information can be made for individuals, the more they appear to internalize it and potentially take more steps to change their behaviors. Leveraging the endowment effect, our study utilizes a RCT framework to determine if physical/experiential learning can aid in more effective hygiene/sanitation education. Making use of primary survey data collected in Nepal in May 2016, motivation to adopt better hygiene behaviors is measured via a hypothesized higher willingness to pay (WTP) for a feminine hygiene kit presented in conjunction with a hygiene education session. Two schools were presented with this health intervention, where one group was surveyed before they received the female hygiene kits, and the other was provided their kit before the survey was administered. Preliminary results show a statistically significant positive difference between the two study groups, with a higher median WTP for girls exposed to kit first. Additionally, basic regressions provide marginal significance of our treatment variable. Stronger statistical work will be performed to confirm our hypothesis of the benefits of including physical products in future WASH education initiatives.
Touch for Health: An Empirical Investigation of Physical Touch as Means of Improved Health Education as Measured via WTP
Leading goals in development research revolve around enhancing health and education, particularly for women, through WASH (Water, Hygiene, and Sanitation) initiatives focused on knowledge and technology adoption. Despite evidence that such efforts can increase positive health-related behaviors and improve school enrollment of adolescents (particularly girls), more research is called for to determine means by which health education can incorporate elements that better induce positive behavior changes/ technology adoption. There is evidence that the more relevant health information can be made for individuals, the more they appear to internalize it and potentially take more steps to change their behaviors. Leveraging the endowment effect, our study utilizes a RCT framework to determine if physical/experiential learning can aid in more effective hygiene/sanitation education. Making use of primary survey data collected in Nepal in May 2016, motivation to adopt better hygiene behaviors is measured via a hypothesized higher willingness to pay (WTP) for a feminine hygiene kit presented in conjunction with a hygiene education session. Two schools were presented with this health intervention, where one group was surveyed before they received the female hygiene kits, and the other was provided their kit before the survey was administered. Preliminary results show a statistically significant positive difference between the two study groups, with a higher median WTP for girls exposed to kit first. Additionally, basic regressions provide marginal significance of our treatment variable. Stronger statistical work will be performed to confirm our hypothesis of the benefits of including physical products in future WASH education initiatives.