3 years ago I joined a research project studying the impact of cleft lip and palate and CLP reparative surgeries on the life outcomes of adolescent patients in India. Now our study is a working paper @CEGA_UC!!!!! https://escholarship.org/uc/item/14f297hf ...(1/7) #EconTwitter
CLP is a congenital anomaly with an incidence rate of 1 in 700 births, varying across regions. If not treated it can have determintial impacts on the life of the patient (map:DALYs lost around the world per million). (2/7)
CLP is a congenital anomaly with an incidence rate of 1 in 700 births, varying across regions. If not treated it can have determintial impacts on the life of the patient (map:DALYs lost around the world per million). (2/7)
CLP is a congenital anomaly with an incidence rate of 1 in 700 births, varying across regions. If not treated it can have determintial impacts on the life of the patient (map:DALYs lost around the world per million). (2/7)
To alleviate the constraints, NGOS such as our partner organization @operationsmile provide free of charge surgeries across the world. For example, they have been operating in India since 2002 (where the study took place) http://operationsmile.org/approach/where-we-work/india (3/7)
India

http://operationsmile.org/approach/where-we-work/india
(This is for the metrics nerds out there)The model we use to causally estimate the impact is a cross sectional DiD. In our model, the closest-age sibling is the counterfactual. Assumptions are: 1)random incidence of CLP within the family, 2)CLP surgery is provided randomly(4/7).
3) difference in potential outcomes is constant between the patients and their siblings, and 4)No spillover of surgery on the sibling. Study went on from 2017-2019. It took place mainly in West Bengal but also other states where Op Smile operates (see map). (5/7)
Some of the main findings include (-) impact on speech quality which increases bullying & social exclusion. Patients have lower weight for height, score less on reading, math, and memory tests, and are more likely to experience depression. (6/7)
Some of the main findings include (-) impact on speech quality which increases bullying & social exclusion. Patients have lower weight for height, score less on reading, math, and memory tests, and are more likely to experience depression. (6/7)
Some of the main findings include (-) impact on speech quality which increases bullying & social exclusion. Patients have lower weight for height, score less on reading, math, and memory tests, and are more likely to experience depression. (6/7)
CLP Surgery partially restores some of the outcomes, especially social inclusion & speech outcomes. Where estimates of surgery impacts are not stat. significant, they point into the positive direction. Finally, Op Smile surgeries demos stat. sig. (+) impact on psych wbeing. (7/7)
Check paper for full results and robustness check here: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/14f297hf. Also check out our PI's @BruceWydick's blog on the study, its motivation, and results here: https://twitter.com/BruceWydick/status/1294026719121170432?s=20
You can follow @mustafahzahid.
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