We examine to what extent recent declines in mortality and fertility
in sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to the distribution of insecticide-treated
bed nets (ITNs). Exploiting the rapid increase in the distribution of ITNs in the
mid-2000s, we employ a difference-in-differences estimation strategy to identify
the causal effect of ITNs on mortality and fertility in 37 sub-Saharan countries
between 2000 and 2014. We show that ITNs reduced all-cause mortality by
9.6 percent for infants, 18.3 percent for one year-olds, and increased total fertility
rates by 10.5 percent – in spite of reduced desire for children and increased
action to prevent pregnancy.