Microfinance Institutions as a Platform for Global Health
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Food Studies, Anemia |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Hematology, Pharmacology / Toxicology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | Any |
| Updated: | 12/1/2016 |
| Start Date: | May 2015 |
| End Date: | November 2016 |
Microfinance Institutions as a Platform for Global Health Delivery: Evidence From a Pilot Program
This study will analyze data from a program run by an microfinance institution (MFI) in
Haiti from 2011-2012 where the MFI delivered health goods to some of the villages where it
operates. By comparing health indicators among children who were in villages targeted by the
program initially to children who were in villages that were not targeted by the program
until later, the investigators hope to understand if the MFI successfully delivered the
intervention and offer a practical platform for delivery of basic health goods.
Haiti from 2011-2012 where the MFI delivered health goods to some of the villages where it
operates. By comparing health indicators among children who were in villages targeted by the
program initially to children who were in villages that were not targeted by the program
until later, the investigators hope to understand if the MFI successfully delivered the
intervention and offer a practical platform for delivery of basic health goods.
Two-thirds of child deaths could be prevented with increased coverage of existing health
products and services; however, effectively delivering health products and services to rural
populations in low-income countries remains a practical challenge. This study investigates
whether microfinance institutions (MFIs), having invested in community-based infrastructure
to deliver financial services to 200 million rural poor households globally, offer a
practical platform for delivery of basic health goods.
The investigators intend to analyze data from a pilot program implemented by an MFI in Haiti
during 2011-2012 that distributed an evidence-based health good, micronutrient powders
(MNPs), to 526 children in 34 villages where the MFI operates. Micronutrient deficiency is
estimated to be responsible for over 1 million deaths of children under five per year. MNPs
are one form of micronutrient supplementation proven to effectively combat micronutrient
deficiency.
Published cost estimates indicate that leveraging existing supply chains could cut the total
cost of mass MNP delivery by 25%. Given MFIs reach 200 million households globally,
MFI-based delivery of health goods may be a promising route to improving health outcomes
efficiently.
products and services; however, effectively delivering health products and services to rural
populations in low-income countries remains a practical challenge. This study investigates
whether microfinance institutions (MFIs), having invested in community-based infrastructure
to deliver financial services to 200 million rural poor households globally, offer a
practical platform for delivery of basic health goods.
The investigators intend to analyze data from a pilot program implemented by an MFI in Haiti
during 2011-2012 that distributed an evidence-based health good, micronutrient powders
(MNPs), to 526 children in 34 villages where the MFI operates. Micronutrient deficiency is
estimated to be responsible for over 1 million deaths of children under five per year. MNPs
are one form of micronutrient supplementation proven to effectively combat micronutrient
deficiency.
Published cost estimates indicate that leveraging existing supply chains could cut the total
cost of mass MNP delivery by 25%. Given MFIs reach 200 million households globally,
MFI-based delivery of health goods may be a promising route to improving health outcomes
efficiently.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Lives in a household where the head of household was an microfinance client.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Severely anemic (Hgb < 70 g/L)
- Severely malnourished (Mid Upper Arm Circumference < 110 mm)
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