Impact of conditional cash transfer on children's health: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Complex Multi-dimensional relationships between social, economic and cultural and biological factors determine the nutritional status and health of children. Poverty and vulnerability lead to limited access to food and basic services including basic health services. Poverty makes families have limitations in providing care and attention to children, thus contributing to morbidity and mortality. To reduce the burden of morbidity and nutritional deficits produced by poverty, many countries have adopted strategies that include conditional cash transfer (CCT), combined with health and education  actions. Methods: Using a systematic review, search using strategies and studies compiled from database sources include: PubMed, Proquest and Google Schoolar from January to February 2019, using basic keywords and inclusion and exclusion criteria with PICO-S techniques (Population Intervention Compare Outcome-Study design), resulting in some keywords: (1) "conditional cash transfer", (2) "child health", (3) "impact OR Effect", (4) "Quasi Experimental". 2,933 studies were found and 4 studies were included in this study. Results: The CCT program has a significant effect on reduced odds of thinness and higher BMI-for-age z-scores, increase in immunization rates of fully vaccinated children, increase in body weight and height and to cut malnutrition. Conclusion: from the results of studies in several countries, all the results of the study showed that the CCT program had a positive impact on children's health including improving nutritional status and fulfilling basic immunization