Conditional Cash Transfer Programs Prevent 739,919 Child Deaths in Latin America

Introduction

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs have proven to be effective in reducing child mortality rates in Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador. A recent impact evaluation study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) reveals that these programs have led to a 24% reduction in child mortality, preventing over 700,000 child deaths. The study also highlights the potential of expanding these programs to mitigate the effects of the current economic crisis and save more than 150,000 lives.

The Significance of CCT Programs

CCT programs are poverty-reduction policies that aim to break the cycle of poverty by providing financial assistance to low-income families in exchange for meeting certain health and education requirements for their children. With 30 such programs currently implemented in Latin America, a region characterized by significant income and health inequalities, the impact of these programs has been widely acknowledged. However, the study conducted by ISGlobal fills a crucial gap in evidence regarding their effectiveness across countries and during times of global crises.

Evaluating the Health Impact

The study, led by ISGlobal researcher Davide Rasella, involved an international team that evaluated the health impact of CCT programs over the past two decades and predicted their potential impact in future scenarios. The team analyzed CCT coverage and its correlation with health and socioeconomic data from 4,882 municipalities in Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador. The findings indicate that higher CCT coverage is associated with a greater reduction in child mortality and hospitalization rates, particularly for poverty-related diseases such as malnutrition, diarrhea, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, and malaria.

Exploring the Reasons Behind the Impact

The study suggests that the positive impact of CCT programs on child mortality is primarily attributed to improved socioeconomic conditions, including better nutrition and housing, rather than solely conditioning income on the use of basic health services. This finding explains why the effect is more pronounced in postneonatal and under-five mortality rates, which are heavily influenced by socioeconomic factors, compared to neonatal mortality rates, which are more dependent on healthcare services.

Expanding Coverage During Economic Crises

The study also conducted forecast analyses considering different economic crisis scenarios and alternative responses in terms of CCT coverage. In a medium crisis scenario, expanding coverage to include the “new” poor would lead to a 17% reduction in child mortality and prevent 153,601 child deaths in the three countries by 2030. The rapid expansion of CCT programs during economic crises is identified as an effective policy to mitigate the health impact and save children’s lives.

Conclusion

Poverty remains a significant driver of disease and death in low- and middle-income countries. The study emphasizes the crucial role of CCT programs in addressing this issue and highlights the need for comprehensive action from multiple perspectives. By focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), governments and organizations can prioritize the expansion and improvement of CCT programs to further reduce child mortality rates and improve overall health outcomes.

Reference

Medeiros-Cavalcanti D, Ordoñez JA, Aransiola T, et al. Evaluation and forecasting analysis of conditional cash transfer and child mortality in Latin America. JAMA Network Open. July 2023. Doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23489