@article{100326,
  keywords = {Deworming, cost-effectiveness, Nutrition, Meta-analysis},
  author = {Croke K and Hamory J and Hsu E and Kremer M and Maertens R and Miguel E and Więcek W},
  title = {Meta-analysis and public policy: Reconciling the evidence on deworming},
  abstract = {<p>The WHO recommends mass drug administration (MDA) for intestinal worm infections in areas with over 20% infection prevalence. Recent Cochrane meta-analyses endorse treatment of infected individuals but recommend against MDA. We conducted a theory-agnostic random-effects meta-analysis of the effect of multiple-dose MDA and a cost-effectiveness analysis. We estimate significant effects of MDA on child weight (0.15 kg, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.24; P &lt; 0.001), mid-upper arm circumference (0.20 cm, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.37; P = 0.02), and height (0.09 cm, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.16; P = 0.02) when prevalence is over 20% but not on Hb (0.06 g/dL, 95% CI: −0.01, 0.14; P = 0.1). These results suggest that MDA is a cost-effective intervention, particularly in the settings where it is recommended by the WHO.</p>
},
  year = {2024},
  journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
  volume = {121},
  pages = {1-12},
  publisher = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
  issn = {0027-8424, 1091-6490},
  url = {https://www.pnas.org/doi/reader/10.1073/pnas.2308733121},
  doi = {10.1073/pnas.2308733121},
  language = {ENG},
}