- Specify causal question (e.g. target trial)
- Draw assumptions (causal diagram)
- Model assumptions (e.g. propensity score)
- Analyze propensities (diagnostics)
- Estimate causal effects (e.g. IPW)
- Sensitivity analysis (tipping points)
We’ll focus on the broader ideas behind each step and what they look like all together; we don’t expect you to fully digest each idea. We’ll spend the rest of the workshop taking up each step in detail
Does using a bed net reduce the risk of malaria?
Malaria and its Impact
- Malaria remains a significant public health concern
- Six countries (Nigeria, DRC, Uganda, Mozambique, Angola, Burkina Faso) saw nearly 50% of all malaria deaths
- Most fatalities happened among children under 5
Role of Bed Nets
- Bed nets are vital in preventing malaria
- They create a barrier against mosquito bites, the main carriers of malaria parasites
- Several randomized studies have shown that bed nets reduce the risk of malaria
Historical Use of Bed Nets
Herodotus noted Egyptians using fishing nets as bed nets in the 5th century BC