01406nas a2200157   4500000000100000008004100001100001400042700001300056700001300069245007400082856007800156300001300234490000600247520098100253022001401234       2015                            d1 aHicks J H1 aKremer M1 aMiguel E00aThe case for mass treatment of intestinal helminths in endemic areas.  uhttp://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0004214  ae00042140 v93 a<p>Editor's Abstract:</p>

<p>Two articles published earlier this year in the International Journal of Epidemiology have re-ignited the debate over the World Health Organization's long-held recommendation of mass-treatment of intestinal helminths in endemic areas. In this note, we discuss the content and relevance of these articles to the policy debate, and review the broader research literature on the educational and economic impacts of deworming. We conclude that existing evidence still indicates that mass deworming is a cost-effective health investment for governments in low-income countries where worm infections are widespread.</p>

<p>A key question in this policy debate is whether deworming increases school attendance (and improves other life outcomes), and if so, whether distributing deworming pills through schools is the most cost-effective way of doing so.</p>

<p>A second re-analysis applies alternative statistical methods to the same data.</p>
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