Information, education, and health behaviors: Evidence from the MMR vaccine autism controversy.
Health Econ
; 27(7): 1043-1062, 2018 07.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29717799
ABSTRACT
In the wake of strong, although later refuted, claims of a link between autism and the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, I examine whether fewer parents immunized or delayed vaccinations for their children and if there was a differential response by mother's education level. Using various controls and a differencing strategy that compares in MMR take-up with other vaccines, I find that the MMR-autism controversy led to a decline in the immediate years and that there were negative spillovers onto other vaccines. I also find evidence that more highly educated mothers responded more strongly to the controversy either by not immunizing their children altogether or, to a lesser degree, delaying vaccination. Moreover, the educational gap was greater in states where there was greater media attention devoted to the controversy. This is consistent with the health allocative efficiency hypothesis whereby part of the education gradient in health outcomes is due to more-educated individuals absorbing and responding to health information more quickly. However, unlike in the United Kingdom, where previous studies find that the gap was eliminated after the link was refuted, the evidence for the United States suggests that the educational gap persisted.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud
/
Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud
/
Vacunación
/
Vacuna contra el Sarampión-Parotiditis-Rubéola
/
Difusión de la Información
Límite:
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Health Econ
Asunto de la revista:
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos