@article{ShaikhOtaVanGestel, author = {Shaikh, Mujaheed and Ota, Elsa and Van Gestel, Raf}, title = {Childhood immunization and competing mortality risks in Kenya: A longitudinal analysis for multiparous mothers}, series = {The Journal of Pediatrics}, journal = {The Journal of Pediatrics}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113590}, abstract = {Objective To assess the relationship between childhood immunization and mortality risks for non-vaccine-preventable diseases (Competing Mortality Risks or CMR) in Kenya. Study Design A combination of the Global Burden of Disease and Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data is used to measure basic vaccination status, CMR, and control variables for each child in the DHS data. A longitudinal analysis was performed. This uses within-mother variation between children to compare the vaccine decisions for different children, who are exposed to different mortality risks. The analysis also distinguishes between overall and disease-specific risks. Results The study included 15,881 children born between 2009 and 2013, who were at least 12 months old at the time of interview and not part of a twin birth. Mean basic vaccination rates ranged from 27.1\% to 90.2\% and mean CMR from 85.80 to 913.63 deaths per 100,000 across different counties. A one-unit increase in mortality risk from diarrhea, the most prevalent disease among children in Kenya, is associated with a 1.1 percentage point decline in basic vaccination status. On the other hand, mortality risks for other diseases and HIV increase the likelihood of vaccination. The effect of CMR was found to be stronger for children with higher birth orders. Conclusions A significant negative correlation between severe CMR and vaccination status is found, which has important implications for immunization policies, particularly in Kenya. Interventions aimed at reducing the most severe CMR, such as diarrhea, and targeted towards multiparous mothers may improve childhood immunization coverage.}, language = {en} } @article{RennerShaikhSpitzer, author = {Renner, Anna-Theresa and Shaikh, Mujaheed and Spitzer, Sonja}, title = {Absence from work and lifetime smoking behavior: Evidence from European maternal leave policies}, series = {Journal of Health Economics}, volume = {102}, journal = {Journal of Health Economics}, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, doi = {10.1016/j.jhealeco.2025.103004}, abstract = {We provide new evidence on how child-related career interruptions affect long-term health behaviors by examining the impact of maternal leave duration on smoking habits across 14 European countries. Linking data on maternity and parental leave policies from 1960 to 2010 with survey data on mothers' health behaviors, birth, and employment histories, we identify the effects of absence from work due to child birth on lifetime smoking in an instrumental variable framework based on within- and between-country variations in policies. We find that a one-month increase in leave duration raises the probability of a mother smoking later in life by 1.2 percentage points. Additionally, a one-month increase in child-related absence from work extends the lifetime duration of smoking by 7 months, the number of cigarettes smoked per day by 0.2 cigarettes, and the number of pack years by 0.6. We document potential non-linearities in these effects, suggesting that shorter leave durations may have a protective effect, while very long absence from work could promote harmful health behaviors. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the observed effects are mediated by the partners' lack of financial support around childbirth, while employment status and other socio-demographic characteristics do not play a significant role.}, language = {en} } @techreport{SharmamShekarRizvietal., type = {Working Paper}, author = {Sharmam, Vaishnavi and Shekar, Kamesh and Rizvi, Kazim and Ananth, Pavan and Chhetri, Deepshika and Shaikh, Mujaheed}, title = {Exchange of Knowledge Across the Lifecycle of Digital Health Initiatives: A Cooperative Knowledge Transfer Between India and the EU}, publisher = {EU-India Think Tanks Twinning Initiative}, pages = {57}, abstract = {The European Union ("EU") and India, two of the most significant jurisdictions in the world, are in the process of introducing transformative legal and policy instruments that seek to leverage digital technologies for health. On 15 August 2020, India unveiled its National Digital Health Mission policy - later rolled out as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ("ABDM") - that seeks to create an open, interoperable digital health ecosystem in the country, enabling various digital health systems to engage with each other and empower individuals to be in control of their health data. On the other hand, on 3rd May 2022, the EU released a proposal for a regulation for a European Health Data Space ("EHDS") to address health-specific challenges to electronic health data access and sharing and create a common space where natural persons can easily control their electronic health data. However, considering these jurisdictions' geographical, cultural, and historical dispositions, various concerns emerge that may cause hindrance to these projects. While the EU has demonstrated its highlyadvanced approach towards policy-making in data-relevant domains, including health, India has showcased its efficiency and experience in scaling data systems and making them interoperable. Accordingly, this research paper highlights certain specific policy- and implementation-level concerns that both jurisdictions need to pay heed to while going ahead with their respective projects. Additionally, after studying the various digital healthcare ecosystems in these jurisdictions, the paper makes certain recommendations to work towards a seamless design, development, deployment, and operation of the frameworks.}, language = {en} } @techreport{MiraldoSassiShaikhetal., type = {Working Paper}, author = {Miraldo, Marisa and Sassi, Franco and Shaikh, Mujaheed and Simmons, Bryony and Vrinten, Charlotte}, title = {The development and market launch of orphan drugs from 1980 - 2019: a quantitative analysis}, publisher = {Rare2030}, pages = {83}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerShaikhKauer, author = {M{\"u}ller, Tobias and Shaikh, Mujaheed and Kauer, Lukas}, title = {Retirement and health plan choice}, series = {Social Science \& Medicine}, volume = {370}, journal = {Social Science \& Medicine}, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, issn = {0277-9536}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117844}, abstract = {Many consumers exhibit choice persistence, often sticking with suboptimal or dominated health plans. We analyze the effect of retirement on health plan choice using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design that exploits Switzerland's old-age pension legislation. Drawing on insurance claims data from 84,731 individuals aged 61 to 68 over the years 2006-2014, we find that retirement significantly increases switching from the standard model to managed care plans, which offer lower premiums but restrict access to specialist care. However, deductible choices remain largely unaffected, as retirees are no more likely to select the cost-minimizing deductible than their non-retired counterparts. We conclude that while retirement may encourage plan switching, many consumers still choose dominated options, underscoring the need for a richer policy framework that provides consumer guidance incorporating measures such as personalized information interventions and simplified choice architectures to promote better health plan choices.}, language = {en} }