Do Cash Transfer Programmes Affect Child Anaemia? Results From a Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Nutrition Science
• Social Policy

Background:

• Childhood anemia is a widespread and serious health issue.
• Nutrition-specific policies are effective, but the impact of nutrition-sensitive policies like cash transfers is less understood.
• Social protection's effect on anemia is understudied compared to its impact on child height.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of cash transfer programs on childhood hemoglobin levels and anemia prevalence.
• To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of cash transfers as a nutrition-sensitive intervention.
• To compare the impact of cash transfers alone versus combined interventions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of over 4000 studies.
• Meta-analysis of 26 estimates on cash transfer program effects.
• Analysis of impacts on hemoglobin and anemia prevalence.

Main Results:

• Cash transfers alone had a negligible effect on hemoglobin (0.065 g/L) and anemia prevalence (-0.092).
• Impacts on hemoglobin and anemia prevalence were not statistically significant.
• Programs combining cash transfers with behavior change communication or nutritional supplements showed greater success.

Conclusions:

• Overall impacts of cash transfer programs on childhood hemoglobin and anemia are weak and inconclusive.
• Cash transfers are more effective when integrated with other interventions, such as education or nutritional supplements.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the role of social protection in addressing childhood anemia.