How family communication and transport affect elderly women's preventive health check-ups in rural Tamil Nadu
Official title: Household Communication and Health Investments for Elderly Women in Tamil Nadu
Run by Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab · NCT07279480 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether telling both elders and their caretakers about free check-ups and offering free transport increases take-up among women aged 60–75 in rural Tamil Nadu.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 60 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 1200 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | October 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 12, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07279480 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are women aged 60–75 living in rural Tamil Nadu who can hear, speak, and move without severe impairment and are willing to travel to a nearby private hospital for a free check-up.
✕Probably not a fit
People with severe hearing, speech, mental, or mobility impairments, those already regularly receiving preventive care, or those living far outside the study area are unlikely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study first surveys elderly women and their caretakers to measure baseline demand for preventive health check-ups and how interest shifts when transportation support varies by the level of caretaker involvement required. It then runs a randomized, cross-randomized intervention where one factor is who is informed (elder only versus elder plus caretaker) and the other is whether free round-trip transport to a nearby private hospital is provided. Take-up of the free health check-up is the primary outcome, with additional measures of elders' willingness to mention the check-up to their caretaker. The work is implemented in rural Tamil Nadu with JPAL SA at IFMR as the local partner.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the interventions could raise attendance at preventive check-ups, improving early detection and management of health problems among elderly women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous experiments in low- and middle-income countries have shown that transport subsidies and information nudges can increase clinic attendance, though cross-randomizing caregiver notification in elder care is less commonly tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Elderly women aged 60-75 Exclusion Criteria: * Those with severe hearing, speech, mental, or mobility impairment
Where it's running
-
JPAL SA at IFMR
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jenny Wang
- Email: wangjm@mit.edu
- Phone: 617-253-3807
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.