ideas42 Global Health Behavioral Design
Global (US, Africa, Asia, Latin America), Global
ideas42 is a non-profit that applies behavioral science to design scalable health solutions. Their portfolio includes a 10% increase in NYC flu vaccinations through appointment prompts, 33% increase in emergency room opioid use disorder treatments, and 78% increase in medication adherence for Medicaid cardiac patients. They use behavioral economics insights—present bias, loss aversion, commitment devices—to redesign health interventions in both the U.S. and low-income countries, with a focus on women and children under 5.
Behavior Goal
Improve health outcomes by applying behavioral insights to redesign interventions for chronic disease management, vaccinations, medication adherence, and maternal-child health
Target Audiences
Methods & Approaches
Channels
Implementers & Partners
- ideas42
- Health System Partners
- World Bank eMBeD
Donors & Sponsors
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Ford Foundation
- Hewlett Foundation
Key Takeaways
- 1Small prompts (like asking "when will you get vaccinated?") can significantly boost uptake
- 2Behavioral design teams embedded in health systems create sustained change
- 3Present bias explains why immediate costs outweigh future health benefits for patients
- 4Framing interventions as potential losses is often more effective than potential gains