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Unconditional cash transfers for preterm neonates: evidence, policy implications, and next steps for research
Zoe Bouchelle1,2,3, Timothy D Nelin4,5,6,7, Elizabeth Salazar8,9,10
1Department of Pediatrics, Denver Health, Denver, CO, USA.
Insights
Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) can improve health outcomes for preterm infants by reducing financial strain on low-income families. This perspective explores UCTs as a vital intervention to address socioeconomic disparities in infant health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Socioeconomic disparities significantly impact preterm infant health outcomes.
- Existing interventions often fail to address the root financial causes of these disparities.
- Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) offer a direct mechanism to alleviate financial strain.
Discussion:
- UCTs provide unrestricted financial resources to families, potentially mitigating income-related barriers to care and resources for preterm infants.
- Evidence suggests UCTs positively impact child health and development in various populations.
- Recurring UCTs are particularly relevant for the sustained financial needs of families with preterm infants.
Key Insights:
- UCTs can serve as a powerful tool to disrupt socioeconomic factors affecting preterm infant health.
- A conceptual model illustrates how UCTs may enhance preterm infant well-being through improved nutrition, healthcare access, and reduced parental stress.
- Implementation requires policy support and further research into optimal UCT design for this population.
Outlook:
- Future research should focus on the specific impact of recurring UCTs on preterm infant health trajectories.
- Policy development should consider UCTs as a viable strategy to reduce health inequities in vulnerable infant populations.
- Investigating the long-term economic and health benefits of UCTs for families with preterm infants is crucial.
Abstract:
To address socioeconomic disparities in the health outcomes of preterm infants, we must move beyond describing these disparities and focus on the development and implementation of interventions that disrupt the factors contributing to them. Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs), which provide unrestricted payments to individuals or households, can help mitigate income disparities and improve health outcomes. While UCTs have been utilized for other vulnerable populations, their full potential has yet to be realized for low-income families with preterm infants, who face significant financial strain. In this perspective, we review evidence supporting UCTs as an intervention for children in the U.S. (including those born term and preterm), discuss the potential benefits of recurring UCTs to low-income families of preterm infants, and propose a conceptual model through which UCTs may improve outcomes for preterm infants. We conclude with potential policy levers for implementing UCTs and key unanswered questions for researchers.
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