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dc.titleCombating Vaccine Hesitancy: The Case of HPV Vaccination
dc.contributor.authorDíaz, Lina M.
dc.contributor.authorMartínez Villarreal, Déborah
dc.contributor.authorMárquez, Karina
dc.contributor.authorScartascini, Carlos
dc.contributor.orgunitDepartment of Research and Chief Economist
dc.coverageColombia
dc.date.available2025-02-20T00:02:00
dc.date.issue2025-02-20T00:02:00
dc.description.abstractCervical cancer, primarily caused by persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in developing countries. Although HPV vaccines are widely available in these regions, vaccine uptake remains persistently low. To address behavioral barriers contributing to this low demand, we evaluated the effectiveness of a behaviorally informed SMS campaign targeting parents in Cali, Colombia. Our study included 15,231 parents, who were randomized into six groups: control, placebo, and four behaviorally informed treatment groups, forming a large-scale study of text-based nudges. Participants received tailored messages over eight weeks. The intervention yielded significant increases in vaccination rates, with improvements ranging from 34% to 55%. Furthermore, the economic analysis demonstrated that the intervention generated between USD 3.6 and USD 5.75 in economic benefits for every dollar spent, primarily due to prevented deaths. These findings underscore the potential of behavioral interventions in enhancing HPV vaccination rates among parents and emphasize the cost-effectiveness and relative success of each intervention strategy. This study provides actionable insights for public health officials to design targeted strategies that address vaccination disparities and promote preventive healthcare practices.
dc.format.extent41
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0013410
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Combating-Vaccine-Hesitancy-The-Case-of-HPV-Vaccination.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherInter-American Development Bank
dc.subjectHealth
dc.subjectImmunization Programs
dc.subjectSocial Norm
dc.subjectBehavioral Science
dc.subjectTrust
dc.subjectPopulation Aging
dc.subjectBehavioral Economics
dc.subjectChildren
dc.subject.jelcodeD01 - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
dc.subject.jelcodeI12 - Health Behavior
dc.subject.keywordsHPV Vaccine
dc.typeWorking Papers
idb.identifier.pubnumberIDB-WP-01673
idb.operationRG-E1968
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