Community Health Promoters in Uganda: Effect on Diarrhoea- and Malaria-Induced Child Mortality

Abstract: Although sub-Saharan Africa has made progress in reducing child mortality, diseases like diarrhoea and malaria still present a serious challenge. Based on Nyqvist, Guariso, Svensson, and Yanagizawa-Drott (2019), we revisit the impact of financially-incentivised Community Health Promoters (CHPs) on child and infant mortality rates in Uganda. Despite the importance of proper training in such initiatives, we find that greater knowledge on the treatment of malaria as opposed to diarrhoea did not significantly improve the effectiveness of CHPs. This highlights the need for reconsideration of the current approach of community health interventions in addressing the spread of such communicable diseases. Keywords: Primary Healthcare, Child Mortality, Infant Mortality, Diarrhoea, Malaria JEL Classification Number: I15, J13, O15