Publisher:
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE), Düsseldorf
Abstract:
Lack of information about COVID-19 and its spread may have contributed to excess mortality at the pandemic's onset, In April and May 2020, we implemented a randomized controlled trial with more than 3,000 households in 150 Bangladeshi villages, Our one-to-one information campaign via phone stressed the importance of social distancing and hygiene measures, and illustrated the consequences of an exponential spread of COVID-19, We find that information provision improves knowledge about COVID-19 and induces significant behavioral changes. Information provision also yields considerably better health outcomes, most importantly by reducing the number of reported deaths by about 50% in treated villages.