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Ngamasana EL, Moxie J. Cash transfer, maternal and child health outcomes: a scoping review in sub-Saharan Africa. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2309726. [PMID: 38333923 PMCID: PMC10860414 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2309726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cash Transfer (CT) programmes can improve maternal and child health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. However, studies assessing the effectiveness of these programmes on maternal and child health outcomes (MCH), beyond nutritional outcomes and service utilisation, remain inconclusive. OBJECTIVES We synthesized current empirical evidence on the effectiveness of these programmes in improving MCH outcomes and suggested a framework for reporting such outcomes. We focused on sub-Saharan Africa because of substantial operational differences between regions, and the need for MCH advancement in this region. METHODS This review searched PubMed Central and Google Scholar and supplemented it with a backward citation search for studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa for the period between 2000 and 2021. Only peer-reviewed studies on CT that reported health outcomes beyond nutritional outcomes and service utilisation among women of reproductive age and children below 18 years old were included. RESULTS Twenty-one articles reporting studies conducted in six sub-Saharan African countries were identified. All studies reported health outcome measures, and programmes targeted women of reproductive age and children under 18 years of age. Of the 21 articles, 1 reported measures of mortality, 13 reported measures of functional status; 3 reported subjective measures of well-being, and 4 reported behavioural health outcomes. Across all categories of reported measures, evidence emerges that cash transfer programmes improved some health outcomes (e.g. improved infant and child survival, reduced incidence of illnesses, improved cognitive and motor development, improved general health, delayed sexual debut, lower transactional sex, etc.), while in some of the studies, outcomes such as depression did not show significant improvements. CONCLUSION Cash Transfer programmes are effective and cost-effective, with a real potential to improve maternal and child health outcomes in sub-Saharan African countries. However, further research is needed to address implementation challenges, which include data collection, and programme management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emery L. Ngamasana
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Jessamyn Moxie
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
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Islam MI, Lyne E, Freeman J, Martiniuk A. A longitudinal study on impact of emergency cash transfer payments during the COVID pandemic on coping among Australian young adults. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17523. [PMID: 39134578 PMCID: PMC11319462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68027-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused financial hardship and psychological distress among young Australians. This study investigates whether the Australian Government's emergency cash transfer payments-specifically welfare expansion for those unemployed prior to the pandemic (known in Australia as the Coronavirus Supplement) and JobKeeper (cash support for those with reduced or stopped employment due to the pandemic)-were associated with individual's level of coping during the coronavirus pandemic among those with and without mental disorders (including anxiety, depression, ADHD and autism). The sample included 902 young adults who participated in all of the last three waves (8, 9C1, 9C2) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), a nationally representative cohort study. Modified Poisson regression models were used to assess the impact of emergency cash transfer payments on 18-22-year-old's self-rated coping level, stratifying the analysis by those with and without mental disorders. All models were adjusted for gender, employment, location, family cohesion, history of smoking, alcohol intake, and COVID-19 test result. Of the 902-person sample analysed, 41.5% (n = 374) reported high levels of coping, 18.9% (n = 171) reported mental disorders, 40.3% (n = 364) received the Coronavirus Supplement and 16.4% (n = 148) received JobKeeper payments. Analysing the total sample demonstrated that participants who received the JobKeeper payment were more likely to have a higher level of coping compared to those who did not receive the JobKeeper payment. Stratified analyses demonstrated that those with pre-existing mental disorder obtained significant benefit from the JobKeeper payment on their level of coping, compared to those who did not receive JobKeeper. In contrast, receipt of the Coronavirus Supplement was not significantly associated with higher level of coping. Among those with no mental health disorder, neither the Coronavirus Supplement nor JobKeeper had a statistically significant impact on level of coping. These findings suggest the positive impacts of cash transfers on level of coping during the pandemic were limited to those with a pre-existing mental disorder who received JobKeeper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Irteja Islam
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building, A27 Fisher Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- Centre for Health Research and School of Business, The University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth Lyne
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building, A27 Fisher Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Joseph Freeman
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building, A27 Fisher Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Alexandra Martiniuk
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building, A27 Fisher Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Office of the Chief Scientist, The George Institute for Global Health, Level 5/1 King Street, Newtown, NSW, 2042, Australia
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, The University of Toronto, 155 College St Room 500, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, Canada
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Hollands GJ, South E, Shemilt I, Oliver S, Thomas J, Sowden AJ. Methods used to conceptualize dimensions of health equity impacts of public health interventions in systematic reviews. J Clin Epidemiol 2024; 169:111312. [PMID: 38432524 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2024.111312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our aims were to, first, identify and summarize the use of methods, frameworks, and tools as a conceptual basis for investigating dimensions of equity impacts of public health interventions in systematic reviews including an equity focus. These include PROGRESS-Plus, which identifies key sociodemographic characteristics that determine health outcomes. Second, we aimed to document challenges and opportunities encountered in the application of such methods, as reported in systematic reviews. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a methodological study, comprising an overview of systematic reviews with a focus on, or that aimed to assess, the equity impacts of public health interventions. We used electronic searches of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Promoting Health Effectiveness Reviews (DoPHER), and the Finding Accessible Inequalities Research in Public Health Database, supplemented with automated searches of the OpenAlex dataset. An active learning algorithm was used to prioritize title-abstract records for manual screening against eligibility criteria. We extracted and analyzed a core dataset from a purposively selected sample of reviews, to summarize key characteristics and approaches to conceptualizing investigations of equity. RESULTS We assessed 322 full-text reports for eligibility, from which we included 120 reports of systematic reviews. PROGRESS-Plus was the only formalized framework used to conceptualize dimensions of equity impacts. Most reviews were able to apply their intended methods to at least some degree. Where intended methods were unable to be applied fully, this was usually because primary research studies did not report the necessary information. A general rationale for focusing on equity impacts was often included, but few reviews explicitly justified their focus on (or exclusion of) specific dimensions. In addition to practical challenges such as data not being available, authors highlighted significant measurement and conceptual issues with applying these methods which may impair the ability to investigate and interpret differential impacts within and between studies. These issues included investigating constructs that lack standardized operationalization and measurement, and the complex nature of differential impacts, with dimensions that may interact with one another, as well as with particular temporal, personal, social or geographic contexts. CONCLUSION PROGRESS-Plus is the predominant framework used in systematic reviews to conceptualize differential impacts of public health interventions by dimensions of equity. It appears sufficiently broad to encompass dimensions of equity examined in most investigations of this kind. However, PROGRESS-Plus does not necessarily ensure or guide critical thinking about more complex pathways, including interactions between dimensions of equity, and with wider contextual factors, and important practical, measurement and conceptual challenges remain. The findings from investigations of equity impacts in systematic reviews could be made more useful through more explicitly rationalized and considered approaches to the design, conduct and reporting of both primary research and the reviews themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth J Hollands
- EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Emily South
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
| | - Ian Shemilt
- EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sandy Oliver
- EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - James Thomas
- EPPI Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amanda J Sowden
- Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, UK
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Choi Y, Park EJ, Lee SY, Kim HY, Lee WY. Mental health effects associated with COVID-19 financial assistance in South Korea: a comparison of employment status. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:805. [PMID: 38486196 PMCID: PMC10938843 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 has created tensions across different sectors of the society, but the impact has been unequal. Vulnerable people have been most affected, especially those with insecure employment and who have experienced economic hardships due to unemployment and lost wages. The combination of social change and economic hardships due to the pandemic increases the risk of poor mental health. Some countries have utilized financial assistance to alleviate economic hardships caused by COVID-19, and in South Korea, the central and local governments have implemented COVID-19 financial assistance. This study analysed the impact of financial assistance on mental health associated with working status during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. METHODS The participants of this study were randomly selected from residents of Gyeonggi-do after being proportionally allocated by resident registration population status. A total of 1,000 adult males and females aged 19 years or older in Gyeonggi-do who received financial assistance from the central and local governments were selected. A retrospective pre-post-study design was applied, and mental health surveys including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7) were applied. RESULTS The results show that depression scores averaged 5.5 and anxiety scores averaged 4.4 before COVID-19 Financial Assistance. It is similar to the national average of 5.1 and 4.5 respectively at that time. After the assistance, depression scores dropped to 4.5, and anxiety scores dropped to 3.2. Before the assistance, depression and anxiety were higher among temporary day labourers with less job security, and they showed the most significant improvement in mental health. For full-time workers, there was no significant change in anxiety or depression after receiving the assistance. CONCLUSIONS Financial assistance can provide material resources and also positively affect mental health. In particular, it had a greater impact on the relatively vulnerable groups, such as those in unstable employment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonjoo Choi
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Joo Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heuk-seok dong, Dong-jak gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Young Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, A-Jou University, 206, Worldcup-Ro, Young-tong gu, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Yeon Kim
- Department of Policy Research, Gyeonggi Welfare Foundation, Gyeong-su daero, Jang-an gu, 1150, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Weon-Young Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 84, Heuk-seok dong, Dong-jak gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Fraser HL, Feldhaus I, Edoka IP, Wade AN, Kohli-Lynch CN, Hofman K, Verguet S. Extended cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions to improve uptake of diabetes services in South Africa. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:253-267. [PMID: 38252592 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The rising prevalence of diabetes in South Africa (SA), coupled with significant levels of unmet need for diagnosis and treatment, results in high rates of diabetes-associated complications. Income status is a determinant of utilization of diagnosis and treatment services, with transport costs and loss of wages being key barriers to care. A conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme, targeted to compensate for such costs, may improve service utilization. We applied extended cost-effectiveness analysis (ECEA) methods and used a Markov model to compare the costs, health benefits and financial risk protection (FRP) attributes of a CCT programme. A population was simulated, drawing from SA-specific data, which transitioned yearly through various health states, based on specific probabilities obtained from local data, over a 45-year time horizon. Costs and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were applied to each health state. Three CCT programme strategies were simulated and compared to a 'no programme' scenario: (1) covering diagnosis services only; (2) covering treatment services only; (3) covering both diagnosis and treatment services. Cost-effectiveness was reported as incremental net monetary benefit (INMB) using a cost-effectiveness threshold of USD3015 per DALY for SA, while FRP outcomes were reported as catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) cases averted. Distributions of the outcomes were reported by income quintile and sex. Covering both diagnosis and treatment services for the bottom two quintiles resulted in the greatest INMB (USD22 per person) and the greatest CHE cases averted. There were greater FRP benefits for women compared to men. A CCT programme covering diabetes diagnosis and treatment services was found to be cost-effective, when provided to the poorest 40% of the SA population. ECEA provides a useful platform for including equity considerations to inform priority setting and implementation policies in SA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Fraser
- Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Clarice Pears Building (Level 3), 90 Byres Road, United Kingdom
- SA MRC/Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science-PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Isabelle Feldhaus
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ijeoma P Edoka
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 32 Princess of Wales Terrace, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Alisha N Wade
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Ciaran N Kohli-Lynch
- SA MRC/Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science-PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Karen Hofman
- SA MRC/Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science-PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Stéphane Verguet
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Besnier E, Kotzias V, Hlabana T, Beck K, Sieu C, Muthengi K. Exploring health equity in Lesotho's Child Grants Programme. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:138-155. [PMID: 38266253 PMCID: PMC10883666 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite their growing popularity, little is known about how cash transfers (CTs) can affect health equity in targeted communities. Lesotho's Child Grants Programme (CGP) is an unconditional CT targeting poor and vulnerable households with children. Started in 2009, the CGP is one of Lesotho's key programmes in developing the country's social protection system. Using the CGP's early phases as a case study, this research aims to capture how programme stakeholders understood and operationalized the concept of health equity in Lesotho's CGP. The qualitative analysis relied on the triangulation of findings from a desk review and semi-structured key informant interviews with programme stakeholders. The programme documents were coded deductively and the interview transcripts inductively. Both materials were analysed thematically before triangulating their findings. We explored determining factors for differences or disagreements within a theme according to the programme's chronology, the stakeholders' affiliations and their role(s) in the CGP. The definitions of health equity in the context of the CGP reflected an awareness among stakeholders of these issues and their determinants but also the challenges raised by the complex (or even debated) nature of the concept. The most common definition of this concept focused on children's access to health services for the most disadvantaged households, suggesting a narrow, targeted approach to health equity as targeting disadvantages. Yet, even the most common definition of this concept was not fully translated into the programme, especially in the day-to-day operations and reporting at the local level. This operationalization gap affected the study of selected health spillover effects of the CGP on health equity and might have undermined other programme impacts related to specific health disadvantages or gaps. As equity objectives become more prominent in CTs, understanding their meaning and translation into concrete, observable and measurable applications in programmes are essential to support impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Besnier
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), PO box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU PO box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Virginia Kotzias
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), PO box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Thandie Hlabana
- National University of Lesotho, P.O Roma 180, Roma, Lesotho
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Rd, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Beck
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), PO box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, Oslo N-0213, Norway
| | - Céline Sieu
- UNICEF Lesotho Country office, 13 UN Road UN House, Maseru, Lesotho
| | - Kimanzi Muthengi
- UNICEF Lesotho Country office, 13 UN Road UN House, Maseru, Lesotho
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Besnier E, Finseraas H, Sieu C, Muthengi K. Using cash transfers to promote child health equity: an analysis of Lesotho's Child Grants Program. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:118-137. [PMID: 38266251 PMCID: PMC11020256 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cash transfers (CTs) are increasingly popular tools for promoting social inclusion and equity in children in sub-Saharan Africa. However, less is known about their implications for reducing the health gap between the beneficiary and non-beneficiary children in the community. Using Lesotho's Child Grants Program (CGP) as a case study, we aim to understand better the potential for CT programmes to reduce the gap in child health in the targeted communities. Using a triple difference model, we examine to what extent CGP improved child health outcomes in eligible households compared with non-eligible households in treatment communities vs control communities and to what extent this effect varied in different population subgroups. We find that the child health gap by beneficiary children's health outcomes catching-up on the health of non-beneficiary children narrowed but that eduction was not statistically significant. However, such a 'catch-up' effect among beneficiaries was observed for selected nutrition outcomes amongst female-headed households and subjective child health assessment for comparatively more food-secure households. This study highlights the potential and limitations of CT programmes like the CGP to address health inequalities in preschool children for selected population subgroups in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Besnier
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research, NTNU Department of Sociology and Political Science, SU Faculty, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, PO box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
- NTNU Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, PO box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Henning Finseraas
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research, NTNU Department of Sociology and Political Science, SU Faculty, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, PO box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Celine Sieu
- UNICEF Lesotho Country office, 13 UN Road, UN House, Maseru, Lesotho
| | - Kimanzi Muthengi
- UNICEF Lesotho Country office, 13 UN Road, UN House, Maseru, Lesotho
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Besnier E, Hlabana T, Kotzias V, Beck K, Sieu C, Muthengi K. Exploring economic empowerment and gender issues in Lesotho's Child Grants Programme: a qualitative study. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:95-117. [PMID: 36760020 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cash transfers (CTs) have been increasingly used in low- and middle-income countries as a poverty reduction and social protection tool. Despite their potential for empowering vulnerable groups (especially women), the evidence for such outcomes remains unclear. Additionally, little is known about how this broad concept fits into and is perceived in such programmes. For example, Lesotho's Child Grants Programme (CGP) is an unconditional CT targeting poor and vulnerable households with children. The CGP has been presented as one of the Lesotho's flagship programmes in developing the country's social safety net system. Using the CGP's early phases as a case study, this research aims to capture how programme stakeholders understood and operationalized the concept of economic empowerment (especially women's) in Lesotho's CGP. The qualitative analysis relied on the triangulation of information from a review of programme documents and semi-structured key informant interviews with programme stakeholders. First, the programme documents were coded deductively, while the interview transcripts were coded inductively, and then both materials were analysed thematically. Finally, differences or disagreements within each theme were explored individually according to the programme's chronology, the stakeholders' affiliation and their role in the CGP. The complexity of economic empowerment was reflected in the diversity of definitions found in the desk review and interviews. Economic empowerment was primarily understood as improving access to economic resources and opportunities and, less so, as agency and social and economic inclusion. There were stronger disagreements on other definitions as they seemed to be a terminology primarily used by specific stakeholders. This diversity of definitions impacted how these concepts were integrated into the programme, with particular gaps between the strategic vision and operational units as well as between the role this concept was perceived to play and the effects evaluated so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Besnier
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), PO Box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU, PO Box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Thandie Hlabana
- National University of Lesotho, P.O. Roma 180, Roma, Lesotho
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Rd., Hull HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Virginia Kotzias
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), PO Box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Kathryn Beck
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), PO Box 8900, Torgarden, Trondheim 7491, Norway
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. box 222, Skøyen, Oslo N-0213, Norway
| | - Celine Sieu
- UNICEF Lesotho Country Office, 13 UN Road, UN House, Maseru, Lesotho
| | - Kimanzi Muthengi
- UNICEF Lesotho Country Office, 13 UN Road, UN House, Maseru, Lesotho
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9
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Atake EH, Dandonougbo Y, Gbeasor-Komlanvi FA, Yagninim MAN, Kouevi DK. Impacts of unconditional cash transfers on health care utilisation in informal sector households in Togo. Int J Health Plann Manage 2024; 39:62-82. [PMID: 37816073 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.3715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most Togolese population earns their income from informal sector, and they are very often exposed to health outcomes. Cash transfers impact healthcare utilization by improving household's social capital, socio-economic status, lifestyle choice, and physical health. The aim of this paper was to analyse the impact of unconditional cash transfers on health care utilisation in informal sector households. METHODS We used the propensity-score method to compare health care utilisation by households that received cash transfers from nonbeneficiary households and simulated a potential confounder to assess the robustness of the impacts of the estimated treatment (i.e., cash transfer). Data were obtained from a national survey that covered 1405 households. RESULTS The results show that women benefited the most from cash transfers (73.1%). Our estimates indicate that health care utilisation increased by 28.3% among workers in the informal sectors who benefited from unconditional cash transfers compared to nonbeneficiaries. The greatest impact was found on agriculture households with an increase by 31.3% in the health care utilisation. In general, cash transfer beneficiaries are more likely to use public health centres; there was an increase in public health facility attendance of 21.3%. CONCLUSIONS Cash transfers are a valuable social protection instrument that improve health care utilisation of populations in the informal sector. Policymakers could use cash transfer as the infusion of income and/or assets that may impact health outcomes. Cash transfers are an opportunity to alleviate barriers of access to health care by older people. Future research must examine impact of cash transfer on health of vulnerable groups such as older people, children, and people with disabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esso-Hanam Atake
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences (FASEG), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | - Yevessé Dandonougbo
- Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, School of Agronomy (ESA), University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | | | - Malb Ama N'Danida Yagninim
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences (FASEG), University of Kara, Kara, Togo
| | - Didier Koumavi Kouevi
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Lomé, Togo
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Bobo FT, Asante A, Woldie M, Dawson A, Hayen A. Evaluating equity across the continuum of care for maternal health services: analysis of national health surveys from 25 sub-Saharan African countries. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:239. [PMID: 37978385 PMCID: PMC10656898 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-02047-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ensuring access to the continuum of care for maternal, neonatal, and child health is an effective strategy for reducing maternal and child mortality. We investigated the extent of dropout, wealth-related inequalities, and drivers of inequality in the continuum of care for maternal health services in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS We analysed Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 2013 and 2019 across 25 sub-Saharan African countries. We defined the continuum of care for maternal health services as women who had received at least four ANC contacts (ANC 4 + contacts), skilled care at birth, and immediate postnatal care (PNC). We used concentration index to estimate wealth-related inequalities across the continuum of care. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of inequality in completing the continuum of care. RESULTS We included data on 196,717 women with the most recent live birth. About 87% of women reported having at least one ANC contact, but only 30% of women received the recommended care package that includes ANC 4 + contacts, skilled care at birth, and PNC. The proportion of women who had completed the continuum of care ranged from 6.5% in Chad to 69.5% in Sierra Leone. Nearly 9% of women reported not having contact with the health system during pregnancy or childbirth; this ranged from 0.1% in Burundi to 34% in Chad. Disadvantaged women were more likely to have no contact with health systems and less likely to have the recommended care package than women from wealthier households. Women with higher education levels, higher exposure to mass media (radio and TV), and higher household wealth status had higher odds of completing the continuum of care. CONCLUSIONS Persistent and increasing inequalities were observed along the continuum of care from pregnancy to the postnatal period, with socioeconomically disadvantaged women more likely to drop out of care. Improving access to and integration of services is required to improve maternal health. Initiatives and efforts to improve maternal health should prioritise and address the needs of communities and groups with low coverage of maternal health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firew Tekle Bobo
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, Wollega University, Nekemte, Ethiopia.
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
- Fenot Project, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Augustine Asante
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mirkuzie Woldie
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
- Fenot Project, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Department of Health Systems and Health Economics, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Angela Dawson
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew Hayen
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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11
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Kneale D, Kjaersgaard A, de Melo M, Joaquim Picardo J, Griffin S, French RS, Burchett HED. Can cash transfer interventions increase contraceptive use and reduce adolescent birth and pregnancy in low and middle income countries? A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001631. [PMID: 37943721 PMCID: PMC10635429 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Becoming pregnant and giving birth under the age of 20 is associated with a range of adverse social, socioeconomic and health outcomes for adolescent girls and their children in Low and middle income countries. Cash transfers are an example of a structural intervention that can change the local social and economic environment, and have been linked with positive health and social outcomes across several domains. As part of a wider review of structural adolescent contraception interventions, we conducted a systematic review on the impact of cash transfers on adolescent contraception and fertility. Fifteen studies were included in the review with eleven studies providing evidence for meta-analyses on contraception use, pregnancy and childbearing. The evidence suggests that cash transfer interventions are generally ineffective in raising levels of contraceptive use. However, cash transfer interventions did reduce levels of early pregnancy (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.00). There was suggestive evidence that conditional, but not unconditional, cash transfers reduce levels of early childbearing. Given that much of the evidence is drawn from interventions providing cash transfers conditional on school attendance, supporting school attendance may enable adolescent girls and young women to make life choices that do not involve early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Kneale
- EPPI-Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Abel Kjaersgaard
- EPPI-Centre, UCL Social Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Malica de Melo
- International Centre for Reproductive Health Mozambique (ICRH-M), Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | - Sally Griffin
- International Centre for Reproductive Health Mozambique (ICRH-M), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Rebecca S. French
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Helen E. D. Burchett
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, Faculty of Public Health & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Mthiyane N, Rapulana AM, Harling G, Copas A, Shahmanesh M. Effect of multi-level interventions on mental health outcomes among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e066586. [PMID: 37788931 PMCID: PMC10551963 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), multiple factors contribute to the considerable burden of mental health disorders among adolescents, highlighting the need for interventions that address underlying risks at multiple levels. We reviewed evidence of the effectiveness of community or family-level interventions, with and without individual level interventions, on mental health disorders among adolescents in SSA. DESIGN Systematic review using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. DATA SOURCES A systematic search was conducted on Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCINFO and Web of Science up to 31 March 2021. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Studies were eligible for inclusion in the review if they were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled quasi-experimental studies conducted in sub-Saharan African countries and measured the effect of an intervention on common mental disorders in adolescents aged 10-24 years. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS We included studies that assessed the effect of interventions on depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Substance abuse was only considered if it was measured alongside mental health disorders. The findings were summarised using synthesis without meta-analysis, where studies were grouped according to the type of intervention (multi-level, community-level) and participants. RESULTS Of 1197 studies that were identified, 30 studies (17 RCTs and 3 quasi-experimental studies) were included in the review of which 10 delivered multi-level interventions and 20 delivered community-level interventions. Synthesised findings suggest that multi-level interventions comprise economic empowerment, peer-support, cognitive behavioural therapy were effective in improving mental health among vulnerable adolescents. Majority of studies that delivered interventions to community groups reported significant positive changes in mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The evidence from this review suggests that multi-level interventions can reduce mental health disorders in adolescents. Further research is needed to understand the reliability and sustainability of these promising interventions in different African contexts. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021258826.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nondumiso Mthiyane
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Antony M Rapulana
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health & Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology & Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew Copas
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
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13
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Richterman A, Millien C, Bair EF, Jerome G, Suffrin JCD, Behrman JR, Thirumurthy H. The effects of cash transfers on adult and child mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Nature 2023:10.1038/s41586-023-06116-2. [PMID: 37258664 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06116-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Poverty is an important social determinant of health that is associated with increased risk of death1-5. Cash transfer programmes provide non-contributory monetary transfers to individuals or households, with or without behavioural conditions such as children's school attendance6,7. Over recent decades, cash transfer programmes have emerged as central components of poverty reduction strategies of many governments in low- and middle-income countries6,7. The effects of these programmes on adult and child mortality rates remains an important gap in the literature, however, with existing evidence limited to a few specific conditional cash transfer programmes, primarily in Latin America8-14. Here we evaluated the effects of large-scale, government-led cash transfer programmes on all-cause adult and child mortality using individual-level longitudinal mortality datasets from many low- and middle-income countries. We found that cash transfer programmes were associated with significant reductions in mortality among children under five years of age and women. Secondary heterogeneity analyses suggested similar effects for conditional and unconditional programmes, and larger effects for programmes that covered a larger share of the population and provided larger transfer amounts, and in countries with lower health expenditures, lower baseline life expectancy, and higher perceived regulatory quality. Our findings support the use of anti-poverty programmes such as cash transfers, which many countries have introduced or expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, to improve population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Richterman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | | | - Elizabeth F Bair
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Jere R Behrman
- Departments of Economics and Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Harsha Thirumurthy
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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14
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Yokobori Y, Kiyohara H, Mulati N, Lwin KS, Bao TQQ, Aung MN, Yuasa M, Fujita M. Roles of Social Protection to Promote Health Service Coverage among Vulnerable People toward Achieving Universal Health Coverage: A Literature Review of International Organizations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20095754. [PMID: 37174271 PMCID: PMC10177917 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
A wider range of social protection services, including social insurance and social assistance, are gaining global attention as a key driver of improved health service coverage and financial protection among vulnerable populations. However, only a few studies have investigated the associations between social protection and universal health coverage (UHC). Therefore, we conducted a literature review on relevant international organizations with respect to this topic. We found that many international organizations consider the wide range of social protection services, including social insurance and social assistance, essential for achieving UHC in 2030. In specific health programs, social protection is considered an important service to promote health service access and financial protection, especially among vulnerable populations. However, discussions about social protection for achieving UHC are not given high priority in the World Health Organization. Currently, the coverage of social protection services is low among vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. To address this issue, we employed the metrics recommended by the migrant integration policy index (MIPEX). Based on our findings, a conceptual framework was developed. We expect this framework to lead synergy between social protection and health systems around the globe, resulting in healthy ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Yokobori
- Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kiyohara
- Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
| | - Nadila Mulati
- Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Kaung Suu Lwin
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Truong Quy Quoc Bao
- Institute for Community Health Research, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
| | - Myo Nyein Aung
- Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Motoyuki Yuasa
- Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Masami Fujita
- Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
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15
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Browne FA, Gichane MW, Shangase N, Ndirangu J, Bonner CP, Wechsberg WM. Social Determinants of Alcohol and Other Drug Misuse Among Women Living with HIV in Economically Underserved Communities in Cape Town, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:1329-1338. [PMID: 36344731 PMCID: PMC9640812 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03869-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to understand how social determinants-the economic and social factors that affect health and well-being-are associated with self-reported and biological alcohol and other drug misuse in South Africa among women living with HIV. Logistic regression analyses were performed using baseline data from an implementation science trial conducted from 2015 to 2018 with 480 Black and Coloured women who were living with HIV and reported recent alcohol or other drug misuse. Educational attainment, type of housing, access to running water, food insecurity, and housing instability were examined. Women with higher education had reduced odds of any drug misuse-both biological (aOR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.33-0.84) and self-reported (aOR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.22-0.64). Women living in formal housing had increased odds of a positive alcohol screening test (aOR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.16-3.18) and women with housing instability had increased odds of self-reported alcohol misuse-daily (aOR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.18-3.35) and weekly (aOR:1.91; 95% CI: 1.19-3.07). Food insecurity was associated with reduced odds of self-reported alcohol misuse (aOR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.25-0.64) and increased odds of self-reported drug misuse (aOR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.16-3.61). These findings indicate the complexity of the relationship between social determinants and alcohol and other drug misuse, and may have implications for addressing social and structural determinants as part of multilevel interventions focused on reducing alcohol and other drug misuse among key populations of women in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicia A Browne
- Substance Use, Gender, and Applied Research Program, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA.
- Health Behavior, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Margaret W Gichane
- Substance Use, Gender, and Applied Research Program, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, 1330 Broadway, Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
| | - Nosipho Shangase
- Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jacqueline Ndirangu
- Substance Use, Gender, and Applied Research Program, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA
| | - Courtney Peasant Bonner
- Substance Use, Gender, and Applied Research Program, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA
- Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Wendee M Wechsberg
- Substance Use, Gender, and Applied Research Program, RTI International, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194, USA
- Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, 640 Poe Hall, Campus Box 7650, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, 40 Duke Medicine Circle, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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16
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Evans-Lacko S, Araya R, Bauer A, Garman E, Álvarez-Iglesias A, McDaid D, Hessel P, Matijasevich A, Paula CS, Park AL, Lund C. Potential mechanisms by which cash transfer programmes could improve the mental health and life chances of young people: A conceptual framework and lines of enquiry for research and policy. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2023; 10:e13. [PMID: 37854414 PMCID: PMC10579689 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2023.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental health is inextricably linked to both poverty and future life chances such as education, skills, labour market attachment and social function. Poverty can lead to poorer mental health, which reduces opportunities and increases the risk of lifetime poverty. Cash transfer programmes are one of the most common strategies to reduce poverty and now reach substantial proportions of populations living in low- and middle-income countries. Because of their rapid expansion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have recently gained even more importance. Recently, there have been suggestions that these cash transfers might improve youth mental health, disrupting the cycle of disadvantage at a critical period of life. Here, we present a conceptual framework describing potential mechanisms by which cash transfer programmes could improve the mental health and life chances of young people. Furthermore, we explore how theories from behavioural economics and cognitive psychology could be used to more specifically target these mechanisms and optimise the impact of cash transfers on youth mental health and life chances. Based on this, we identify several lines of enquiry and action for future research and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Evans-Lacko
- Department of Health Policy, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Annette Bauer
- Department of Health Policy, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Emily Garman
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Alejandra Álvarez-Iglesias
- Department of Health Policy, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David McDaid
- Department of Health Policy, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Philipp Hessel
- Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alicia Matijasevich
- Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Cristiane Silvestre Paula
- Centro Mackenzie de Pesquisa sobre Infância e Adolescência, Programa de Pós-graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A-La Park
- Department of Health Policy, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health Service & Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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17
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Clark CJ, Jashinsky K, Renz E, Bergenfeld I, Durr RL, Cheong YF, Kalra S, Laterra A, Yount KM. Qualitative endline results of the tipping point project to prevent child, early and forced marriage in Nepal. Glob Public Health 2023; 18:2287606. [PMID: 38054604 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2023.2287606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Currently, Nepal is not on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 - the elimination of harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage by the year 2030. Evidence on what works to prevent child, early and forced marriage often is inattentive to contextual factors that influence intervention effectiveness. This study presents qualitative results of a mixed-methods evaluation of CARE's Tipping Point Program to prevent child, early and forced marriage in Nepal, interrogating the perceived benefits of the programme and elucidating contextual features that enhance or detract from programme benefit. Baseline data included interviews with adolescent girls (N = 20), boys (N = 10), adult community leaders (N = 8) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with girls (N = 8 groups; 48 individuals), boys (N = 8 groups; 47 individuals) and parents (N = 16 groups; 95 individuals). Using thematic analysis and structured comparisons by time, gender, district, caste/community, stakeholder type and arm, we found diverse programme participation, but widespread improvements in knowledge across several domains, with behavioural changes concentrated among participants with stronger participation and pre-programme characteristics suggestive of low risk of child marriage. Findings underscore the need to address structural barriers to prevent child marriage and the challenges of attributing programme benefit amidst a dynamic social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cari Jo Clark
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kayla Jashinsky
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emma Renz
- Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Irina Bergenfeld
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert L Durr
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuk Fai Cheong
- Department of Psychology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Anne Laterra
- Health Equity and Rights Team, CARE USA, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kathryn M Yount
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Sociology, Emory College of Arts and Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
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18
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Quinones S, Mendola P, Tian L, Lin S, Novignon J, Angeles G, Palermo T. Ghana's Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (1000) Program Seasonally Impacts Birthweight: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis. Int J Public Health 2023; 68:1605336. [PMID: 36891221 PMCID: PMC9986251 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1605336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Low birthweight (LBW) prevalence remains high in African countries and evidence of cash transfer impacts on birthweight, particularly by season of infant birth, is limited. This study examines overall and seasonal cash transfer impacts on LBW in rural Ghana. Methods: Data come from a longitudinal, quasi-experimental impact evaluation of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) 1,000 unconditional cash transfer program for impoverished pregnant or lactating women in rural districts of Northern Ghana. LEAP1000 program impacts on average birthweight and LBW were estimated for a multiply imputed sample of 3,258 and a panel sample of 1,567 infants using differences-in-differences models and triple difference models to assess impacts by season. Results: LEAP1000 decreased LBW prevalence by 3.5 and 4.1 percentage points overall and in the dry season, respectively. LEAP1000 increased average birthweight by 94, 109, and 79 g overall, in the dry season, and in the rainy season, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings of positive LEAP1000 impacts on birthweight across seasons and on LBW in the dry season demonstrate the need to take seasonal vulnerabilities into account when designing and implementing programs for rural populations in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Quinones
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Pauline Mendola
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Lili Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - Jacob Novignon
- Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Gustavo Angeles
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Tia Palermo
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
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19
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Washburn T, Diener ML, Curtis DS, Wright CA. Modern slavery and labor exploitation during the COVID-19 pandemic: a conceptual model. Glob Health Action 2022; 15:2074784. [PMID: 35730610 PMCID: PMC9246183 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2022.2074784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern slavery is a complex global health problem that includes forced labor exploitation. An ecological systems perspective is needed to understand how contextual upstream and midstream factors contribute to labor exploitation, and how disruptive societal challenges, such as infectious disease pandemics, may exacerbate established pathways leading to exploitation. Accumulation of familial and societal risk factors likely heightens vulnerability; for instance, economic precarity for an individual interacts with poor livelihood options and lack of social welfare supports increasing their likelihood of accepting exploitative labor. However, few frameworks exist that account for the accumulation of and interdependence between risk factors at different levels and across contexts. OBJECTIVE Using an ecological systems framework, we review literature on the pathways leading to labor exploitation, with the aim of developing a conceptual model grounded in existing research. Next, we discuss how pathways in this conceptual model are likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This conceptual model can guide future research to detect modifiable factors and strategic points of intervention. METHODS A critical review of research articles and gray literature was performed with a primary focus on sub-Saharan Africa. The review utilized various scholarly databases to identify perspectives from multiple disciplines and to more fully account for complex processes linked to labor exploitation. RESULTS A conceptual model of these pathways was developed that emphasizes established determinants and risk factors for labor exploitation in sub-Saharan Africa. The model highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated these pathways. CONCLUSIONS Future studies should carefully examine the direct and indirect pathways, accumulation of and interactions between factors, and specific external and personal stressors. Interdisciplinary research on multilevel interventions is needed to guide solutions to prevent the persistent problem of labor exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Washburn
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Marissa L Diener
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - David S Curtis
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Cheryl A Wright
- Department of Family and Consumer Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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20
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Ndimande-Khoza MN, Scorgie F, Delany-Moretlwe S, Selin A, Twine R, Kahn K, Pettifor A, MacPhail C. The impact of conditional cash transfers for HIV prevention on peer relationships: perspectives from female recipients and non-recipients in HPTN 068. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2230. [PMID: 36451178 PMCID: PMC9710134 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14529-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
CCTs are currently being explored for HIV prevention among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Southern Africa. However, little is known about how CCT geared towards adolescents' influence peer relationships, despite evidence that peer relationships form a critical part of development in adolescence. This article presents findings from a qualitative study that explored CCT recipients' and non-recipients' perspectives on the impact of CCTs paid to AGYW on peer relationships.HPTN 068 was a randomised controlled trial that assessed whether providing CCT to AGYW and their households reduces AGYW's risk of acquiring HIV. As part of this trial, we conducted interviews and focus group discussions with sub-samples of AGYW (n = 39), who were both cash recipients and non-recipients. Through content analysis, we explored ways in which the CCT positively or negatively impacted on peer relationships.From the recipients' viewpoint, the CCT improved their social standing within their peer groups. It facilitated peer identity and promoted social connectedness among AGYW receiving the CCT. Receipt of the CCT enabled AGYW to resemble and behave like their peers who had money, allowing their poverty to become "invisible". The CCT facilitated social interactions, information sharing, and instrumental social support among AGYW. CCT recipients experienced an increase in their social capital, evident in their ability to network, share, and reciprocate with others. However, the CCT also evoked negative emotions such as jealousy, anxiety, and resentment among non-recipients and led to a deterioration of personal relationships.CCTs have enormous benefits for AGYW, but they may also have a negative impact on peer relationships. The implementation of HIV prevention interventions focused on structural drivers needs to be conscious of these dynamics and ensure that the negative consequences do not outweigh benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fiona Scorgie
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Sinead Delany-Moretlwe
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Amanda Selin
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rhian Twine
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kathleen Kahn
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Audrey Pettifor
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Catherine MacPhail
- Wits RHI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
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21
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Evans L, Lund C, Massazza A, Weir H, Fuhr DC. The impact of employment programs on common mental disorders: A systematic review. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2022; 68:1315-1323. [PMID: 35796434 PMCID: PMC9548920 DOI: 10.1177/00207640221104684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While employment programs were not created with the intent to improve common mental disorders (CMDs), they may have a positive impact on the prevalence, incidence, and severity of CMD by reducing poverty and increasing access to economic mobility. AIM To examine and synthesize the available quantitative evidence of the impact of employment programs on outcomes of CMD. METHODS Embase, Econlit, Global Health, MEDLINE, APA PsychINFO, and Social Policy and Practice were searched for experimental and quasi-experimental studies which investigated the impact of employment programs on primary and secondary outcomes of a CMD. A narrative synthesis according to Popay was conducted. The methodological quality of studies was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Assessment Scale. RESULTS Of the 1,327 studies retrieved, two randomized controlled trials, one retrospective cohort, one pilot study with a non-randomized experimental design, and one randomized field experiment were included in the final review. Employment programs generally included multiple components such as skills-based training, and hands-on placements. Depression and anxiety were the CMDs measured as primary or secondary outcomes within included studies. Findings regarding the impact of employment programs on CMD were mixed with two studies reporting significantly positive effects, two reporting no effects, and one reporting mixed effects. The quality among included studies was good overall with some concerns regarding internal validity. CONCLUSION Employment programs may support a decrease in the prevalence, incidence, and severity of CMDs. However, there is high heterogeneity among study effects, designs, and contexts. More research is needed to gain further insight into the nature of this association and the mechanisms of impact. This review highlights the potential for employment programs and other poverty-reduction interventions to be utilized and integrated into the wider care, prevention, and treatment of common-mental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libby Evans
- Department of Health Services Research
and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Crick Lund
- Centre for Global Mental Health, Health
Services and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and
Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental
Health, Alan J. Fisher Centre for Public Mental Health, University of Cape Town,
South Africa
| | - Alessandro Massazza
- Department of Health Services Research
and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Hannah Weir
- Department of Health Services Research
and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Daniela C Fuhr
- Department of Health Services Research
and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
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22
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Ali MK, Flacking R, Sulaiman M, Osman F. Effects of Nutrition Counselling and Unconditional Cash Transfer on Child Growth and Family Food Security in Internally Displaced Person Camps in Somalia-A Quasi-Experimental Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13441. [PMID: 36294019 PMCID: PMC9603782 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The effects of nutrition counselling (NC) and unconditional cash transfer (UCT) in improving growth in children under five and household food security are poorly understood in humanitarian settings. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of NC and NC combined with unconditional cash transfer (NC + UCT) on children's growth and food security in Somalia. The study was performed with a quasi-experimental design in two districts in the Banadir region of Somalia. Caregivers (n = 255) with mildly to moderately malnourished children aged 6 to 59 months old (n = 184) were randomized to the NC, NC + UCT and control groups. The interventions consisted of weekly NC for three months alone or in combination with UCT. The outcome variables were wasting, underweight, stunting, and food security. Difference-indifferences analysis was used to estimate the effect of the interventions. Our study did not find any significant impacts of NC or NC + UCT on child wasting, underweight, stunting, food security or household expenses. In conclusion, NC, alone or in combination with UCT, did not impact children's growth or household food security. Thus, a culturally tailored NC programme over a longer period, supplemented with cash transfer, could be beneficial to consider when designing interventions to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Kalid Ali
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 79182 Falun, Sweden
- Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Somalia Country Office, Nairobi P.O. Box 30470-00100, Kenya
| | - Renée Flacking
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 79182 Falun, Sweden
| | - Munshi Sulaiman
- BRAC International, Clock Tower, Kampala P.O. Box 31817, Uganda
| | - Fatumo Osman
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, 79182 Falun, Sweden
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23
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Pescarini JM, Campbell D, Amorim LD, Falcão IR, Ferreira AJF, Allik M, Shaw RJ, Malta DC, Ali MS, Smeeth L, Barreto ML, Leyland A, Craig P, Aquino EML, Katikireddi SV. Impact of Brazil's Bolsa Família Programme on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality: a natural experiment study using the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort. Int J Epidemiol 2022; 51:1847-1861. [PMID: 36172959 PMCID: PMC9749722 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has a disproportionate effect on mortality among the poorest people. We assessed the impact on CVD and all-cause mortality of the world's largest conditional cash transfer, Brazil's Bolsa Família Programme (BFP). METHODS We linked administrative data from the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort with BFP receipt and national mortality data. We followed individuals who applied for BFP between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2015, until 31 December 2015. We used marginal structural models to estimate the effect of BFP on all-age and premature (30-69 years) CVD and all-cause mortality. We conducted stratified analyses by levels of material deprivation and access to healthcare. We checked the robustness of our findings by restricting the analysis to municipalities with better mortality data and by using alternative statistical methods. RESULTS We studied 17 981 582 individuals, of whom 4 855 324 were aged 30-69 years. Three-quarters (76.2%) received BFP, with a mean follow-up post-award of 2.6 years. We detected 106 807 deaths by all causes, of which 60 893 were premature; and 23 389 CVD deaths, of which 15 292 were premature. BFP was associated with reductions in premature all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94-0.98], premature CVD (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92-1.00) and all-age CVD (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93-1.00) but not all-age all-cause mortality (HR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.98-1.02). In stratified and robustness analyses, BFP was consistently associated with mortality reductions for individuals living in the two most deprived quintiles. CONCLUSIONS BFP appears to have a small to null effect on premature CVD and all-cause mortality in the short term; the long-term impact remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Pescarini
- Corresponding author. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. E-mail:
| | - Desmond Campbell
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Leila D Amorim
- Departamento de Estatística, Instituto de Matemática e Estatística, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Ila R Falcão
- Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Andrêa J F Ferreira
- Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Mirjam Allik
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Richard J Shaw
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Deborah C Malta
- Departamento materno infantil e saude pública, Universidade Federal de Minas gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - M Sanni Ali
- Departments of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (JMP) and Epidemiology and Population Health (LS), Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Liam Smeeth
- Departments of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (JMP) and Epidemiology and Population Health (LS), Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK,Health Data Research (HDR), London, UK
| | - Mauricio L Barreto
- Centre for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil,Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Alastair Leyland
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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24
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Lennon NH, Carmichael AE, Qualters JR. Health equity guiding frameworks and indices in injury: A review of the literature. JOURNAL OF SAFETY RESEARCH 2022; 82:469-481. [PMID: 36031278 PMCID: PMC10569058 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In early 2021, CDC released the CORE Health Equity Strategy, which resolves to integrate a comprehensive health equity approach to the work of the Agency. One priority of the Injury Center's Division of Injury Prevention is to move health equity research in injury forward. The purpose of this research is to perform an initial exploration of health equity guiding frameworks and indices to better understand which of these has been applied to injury research topics. METHODS A PubMed and CINAHL search of meta-analysis and systematic review articles was conducted from January 1998 through April 2022. Articles of any type and additional frameworks/indices were also identified from staff knowledge of the literature. Books were also considered, where accessible. The following areas were reviewed for each resource: population addressed, guiding framework/index, other health equity variables, gaps identified, and whether the articles addressed an injury topic. FINDINGS The PubMed/CINAHL search produced 230 articles, and an additional 29 articles and 8 books were added from previous knowledge of the literature, resulting in a total of 267 resources for review. There were 60 frameworks/indices compiled that were relevant to health equity. Out of all the resources, three reported on an injury topic and used the PROGRESS-Plus framework, the WHO Social Determinants of Health Conceptual Framework, and a social-ecological framework. CONCLUSIONS This study found there were many frameworks/indices for measuring health equity; however, there were few injury-related meta-analysis and systematic review articles. Some frameworks/indices may be more appropriate than others for measuring health equity in injury topic areas, depending on which social determinants of health (SDOHs) they address. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Measuring health equity in injury and other public health research areas can help build a foundation of evidence. Moving forward, injury researchers can consider the frameworks/indices identified through this study in their health equity injury research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie H Lennon
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Injury Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), Division of Injury Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
| | - Andrea E Carmichael
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Injury Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Judith R Qualters
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Injury Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
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25
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Hernández-Vásquez A, Azañedo D, Vargas-Fernández R, Basualdo-Meléndez GW, Barón-Lozada FA, Comandé D. Impact of Cash Transfers on the Use of Oral Health Services and Oral Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2022; 12:323-339. [PMID: 35966906 PMCID: PMC9369780 DOI: 10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_12_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to summarize the evidence available on the impact of cash transfers on the use of oral health services and oral health outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS 9 databases were searched for studies on cash transfers and oral health: PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EconLit, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS. We conducted a systematic review of studies that evaluated the impact of cash transfers on the use of oral health services and other oral health outcomes. RESULTS Three studies with more than 13,000 participants conducted in Brazil and Argentina were included. One study from Brazil found that participants in the Bolsa Familia Program (BFP) were more likely not to use oral health services (aPR: 6.18; 95% CI: 3.07-12.45; P < 0.001) and had a higher probability of presenting dental caries (aPR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.47-2.69) and severe caries (aRR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.18-2.00). Another study conducted in Brazil found that the BFP was associated with fewer dental caries among those enrolled in the first 2 years of the BFP as well as after six years. On the other hand, the Argentina study found that the Universal Child Allowance program did not have a statistically significant average treatment effect (ATE = -0.05; P > 0.05) on the use of dental health services. CONCLUSION There is a lack of evidence about the impact of CT on the use of oral health services and oral health outcomes. The evidence suggests that cash transfers might not have a positive impact on the use of oral health services. The results regarding the impact of receiving cash transfers on dental caries are contradictory. However, more evidence is needed to draw stronger conclusions for policy taking. REGISTRATION The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021268234).
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Affiliation(s)
- Akram Hernández-Vásquez
- Centro de Excelencia en Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales en Salud, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Diego Azañedo
- Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru,Address for correspondence: Mr. Diego Azañedo, Universidad Científica del Sur, Panamericana Sur Km 19, Lima, Peru. E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Comandé
- Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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26
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Perera C, Bakrania S, Ipince A, Nesbitt‐Ahmed Z, Obasola O, Richardson D, Van de Scheur J, Yu R. Impact of social protection on gender equality in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of reviews. CAMPBELL SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2022; 18:e1240. [PMID: 36913187 PMCID: PMC9133545 DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Background More than half of the global population is not effectively covered by any type of social protection benefit and women's coverage lags behind. Most girls and boys living in low-resource settings have no effective social protection coverage. Interest in these essential programmes in low and middle-income settings is rising and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the value of social protection for all has been undoubtedly confirmed. However, evidence on whether the impact of different social protection programmes (social assistance, social insurance and social care services and labour market programmes) differs by gender has not been consistently analysed. Evidence is needed on the structural and contextual factors that determine differential impacts. Questions remain as to whether programme outcomes vary according to intervention implementation and design. Objectives This systematic review aims to collect, appraise, and synthesise the evidence from available systematic reviews on the differential gender impacts of social protection programmes in low and middle-income countries. It answers the following questions: 1.What is known from systematic reviews on the gender-differentiated impacts of social protection programmes in low and middle-income countries?2.What is known from systematic reviews about the factors that determine these gender-differentiated impacts?3.What is known from existing systematic reviews about design and implementation features of social protection programmes and their association with gender outcomes? Search Methods We searched for published and grey literature from 19 bibliographic databases and libraries. The search techniques used were subject searching, reference list checking, citation searching and expert consultations. All searches were conducted between 10 February and 1 March 2021 to retrieve systematic reviews published within the last 10 years with no language restrictions. Selection Criteria We included systematic reviews that synthesised evidence from qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods studies and analysed the outcomes of social protection programmes on women, men, girls, and boys with no age restrictions. The reviews included investigated one or more types of social protection programmes in low and middle-income countries. We included systematic reviews that investigated the effects of social protection interventions on any outcomes within any of the following six core outcome areas of gender equality: economic security and empowerment, health, education, mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, safety and protection and voice and agency. Data Collection and Analysis A total of 6265 records were identified. After removing duplicates, 5250 records were screened independently and simultaneously by two reviewers based on title and abstract and 298 full texts were assessed for eligibility. Another 48 records, identified through the initial scoping exercise, consultations with experts and citation searching, were also screened. The review includes 70 high to moderate quality systematic reviews, representing a total of 3289 studies from 121 countries. We extracted data on the following areas of interest: population, intervention, methodology, quality appraisal, and findings for each research question. We also extracted the pooled effect sizes of gender equality outcomes of meta-analyses. The methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was assessed, and framework synthesis was used as the synthesis method. To estimate the degree of overlap, we created citation matrices and calculated the corrected covered area. Main Results Most reviews examined more than one type of social protection programme. The majority investigated social assistance programmes (77%, N = 54), 40% (N = 28) examined labour market programmes, 11% (N = 8) focused on social insurance interventions and 9% (N = 6) analysed social care interventions. Health was the most researched (e.g., maternal health; 70%, N = 49) outcome area, followed by economic security and empowerment (e.g., savings; 39%, N = 27) and education (e.g., school enrolment and attendance; 24%, N = 17). Five key findings were consistent across intervention and outcomes areas: (1) Although pre-existing gender differences should be considered, social protection programmes tend to report higher impacts on women and girls in comparison to men and boys; (2) Women are more likely to save, invest and share the benefits of social protection but lack of family support is a key barrier to their participation and retention in programmes; (3) Social protection programmes with explicit objectives tend to demonstrate higher effects in comparison to social protection programmes without broad objectives; (4) While no reviews point to negative impacts of social protection programmes on women or men, adverse and unintended outcomes have been attributed to design and implementation features. However, there are no one-size-fits-all approaches to design and implementation of social protection programmes and these features need to be gender-responsive and adapted; and (5) Direct investment in individuals and families' needs to be accompanied by efforts to strengthen health, education, and child protection systems. Social assistance programmes may increase labour participation, savings, investments, the utilisation of health care services and contraception use among women, school enrolment among boys and girls and school attendance among girls. They reduce unintended pregnancies among young women, risky sexual behaviour, and symptoms of sexually transmitted infections among women. Social insurance programmes increase the utilisation of sexual, reproductive, and maternal health services, and knowledge of reproductive health; improve changes in attitudes towards family planning; increase rates of inclusive and early initiation of breastfeeding and decrease poor physical wellbeing among mothers. Labour market programmes increase labour participation among women receiving benefits, savings, ownership of assets, and earning capacity among young women. They improve knowledge and attitudes towards sexually transmitted infections, increase self-reported condom use among boys and girls, increase child nutrition and overall household dietary intake, improve subjective wellbeing among women. Evidence on the impact of social care programmes on gender equality outcomes is needed. Authors' Conclusions Although effectiveness gaps remain, current programmatic interests are not matched by a rigorous evidence base demonstrating how to appropriately design and implement social protection interventions. Advancing current knowledge of gender-responsive social protection entails moving beyond effectiveness studies to test packages or combinations of design and implementation features that determine the impact of these interventions on gender equality. Systematic reviews investigating the impact of social care programmes, old age pensions and parental leave on gender equality outcomes in low and middle-income settings are needed. Voice and agency and mental health and psychosocial wellbeing remain under-researched gender equality outcome areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ruichuan Yu
- UNICEF Office of Research—InnocentiFlorenceItaly
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27
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Thomson RM, Igelström E, Purba AK, Shimonovich M, Thomson H, McCartney G, Reeves A, Leyland A, Pearce A, Katikireddi SV. How do income changes impact on mental health and wellbeing for working-age adults? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Public Health 2022; 7:e515-e528. [PMID: 35660213 PMCID: PMC7614874 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(22)00058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lower incomes are associated with poorer mental health and wellbeing, but the extent to which income has a causal effect is debated. We aimed to synthesise evidence from studies measuring the impact of changes in individual and household income on mental health and wellbeing outcomes in working-age adults (aged 16-64 years). METHODS For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ASSIA, EconLit, and RePEc on Feb 5, 2020, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quantitative non-randomised studies. We had no date limits for our search. We included English-language studies measuring effects of individual or household income change on any mental health or wellbeing outcome. We used Cochrane risk of bias (RoB) tools. We conducted three-level random-effects meta-analyses, and explored heterogeneity using meta-regression and stratified analyses. Synthesis without meta-analysis was based on effect direction. Critical RoB studies were excluded from primary analyses. Certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020168379. FINDINGS Of 16 521 citations screened, 136 were narratively synthesised (12·5% RCTs) and 86 meta-analysed. RoB was high: 30·1% were rated critical and 47·1% serious or high. A binary income increase lifting individuals out of poverty was associated with 0·13 SD improvement in mental health measures (95% CI 0·07 to 0·20; n=42 128; 18 studies), considerably larger than other income increases (0·01 SD improvement, 0·002 to 0·019; n=216 509, 14 studies). For wellbeing, increases out of poverty were associated with 0·38 SD improvement (0·09 to 0·66; n=101 350, 8 studies) versus 0·16 for other income increases (0·07 to 0·25; n=62 619, 11 studies). Income decreases from any source were associated with 0·21 SD worsening of mental health measures (-0·30 to -0·13; n=227 804, 11 studies). Effect sizes were larger in low-income and middle-income settings and in higher RoB studies. Heterogeneity was high (I2=79-87%). GRADE certainty was low or very low. INTERPRETATION Income changes probably impact mental health, particularly where they move individuals out of poverty, although effect sizes are modest and certainty low. Effects are larger for wellbeing outcomes, and potentially for income losses. To best support population mental health, welfare policies need to reach the most socioeconomically disadvantaged. FUNDING Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Chief Scientist Office, and European Research Council.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Thomson
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Erik Igelström
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Amrit Kaur Purba
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Michal Shimonovich
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Hilary Thomson
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Gerry McCartney
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Public Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aaron Reeves
- Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alastair Leyland
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Anna Pearce
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - S Vittal Katikireddi
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Public Health Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
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Novignon J, Prencipe L, Molotsky A, Valli E, de Groot R, Adamba C, Palermo T. The impact of unconditional cash transfers on morbidity and health-seeking behaviour in Africa: evidence from Ghana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Health Policy Plan 2022; 37:607-623. [PMID: 35157775 PMCID: PMC9113146 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czac014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Unconditional cash transfers have demonstrated widespread, positive impacts on consumption, food security, productive activities and schooling. However, the evidence to date on cash transfers and health-seeking behaviours and morbidity is not only mixed, but the evidence base is biased towards conditional programmes from Latin America and is more limited in the context of Africa. Given contextual and programmatic design differences between the regions, more evidence from Africa is warranted. We investigate the impact of unconditional cash transfers on morbidity and health-seeking behaviour using data from experimental and quasi-experimental study designs of five government cash transfer programs in Ghana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Programme impacts were estimated using difference-in-differences models with longitudinal data. The results indicate positive programme impacts on health seeking when ill and on health expenditures. Our findings suggest that while unconditional cash transfers can improve health seeking when ill, morbidity impacts were mixed. More research is needed on longer-term impacts, mechanisms of impact and moderating factors. Additionally, taken together with existing evidence, our findings suggest that when summarizing the impacts of cash transfers on health, findings from conditional and unconditional programmes should be disaggregated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Novignon
- Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Leah Prencipe
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3000 CA, The Netherlands
| | - Adria Molotsky
- American Institutes for Research, International Development Division, 1400 Crystal Drive, 10th Floor Arlington, VA 22202, USA
| | - Elsa Valli
- UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti, Via degli Alfani 58, 50121 Florence, Italy
| | - Richard de Groot
- Independent Consultant, Josef Israelshof 23, Oosterhout 4907 PT, The Netherlands
| | - Clement Adamba
- Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana-Legon, P.O. Box LG 74, Legon-Accra, Ghana
| | - Tia Palermo
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, State University of New York at Buffalo, 270 Farber Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214-800, USA
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Vaivada T, Lassi ZS, Irfan O, Salam RA, Das JK, Oh C, Carducci B, Jain RP, Als D, Sharma N, Keats EC, Patton GC, Kruk ME, Black RE, Bhutta ZA. What can work and how? An overview of evidence-based interventions and delivery strategies to support health and human development from before conception to 20 years. Lancet 2022; 399:1810-1829. [PMID: 35489360 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)02725-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progress has been made globally in improving the coverage of key maternal, newborn, and early childhood interventions in low-income and middle-income countries, which has contributed to a decrease in child mortality and morbidity. However, inequities remain, and many children and adolescents are still not covered by life-saving and nurturing care interventions, despite their relatively low costs and high cost-effectiveness. This Series paper builds on a large body of work from the past two decades on evidence-based interventions and packages of care for survival, strategies for delivery, and platforms to reach the most vulnerable. We review the current evidence base on the effectiveness of a variety of essential and emerging interventions that can be delivered from before conception until age 20 years to help children and adolescents not only survive into adulthood, but also to grow and develop optimally, support their wellbeing, and help them reach their full developmental potential. Although scaling up evidence-based interventions in children younger than 5 years might have the greatest effect on reducing child mortality rates, we highlight interventions and evidence gaps for school-age children (5-9 years) and the transition from childhood to adolescence (10-19 years), including interventions to support mental health and positive development, and address unintentional injuries, neglected tropical diseases, and non-communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Vaivada
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zohra S Lassi
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, the University of Adelaide, SA, Australia; Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Omar Irfan
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rehana A Salam
- Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Jai K Das
- Division of Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Christina Oh
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bianca Carducci
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Reena P Jain
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daina Als
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naeha Sharma
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Emily C Keats
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - George C Patton
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Margaret E Kruk
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert E Black
- Institute for International Programs, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA
| | - Zulfiqar A Bhutta
- Center for Global Child Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health and Institute for Global Health and Development, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
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Pega F, Pabayo R, Benny C, Lee EY, Lhachimi SK, Liu SY. Unconditional cash transfers for reducing poverty and vulnerabilities: effect on use of health services and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; 3:CD011135. [PMID: 35348196 PMCID: PMC8962215 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011135.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs; provided without obligation) for reducing poverty and vulnerabilities (e.g. orphanhood, old age, or HIV infection) are a social protection intervention addressing a key social determinant of health (income) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The relative effectiveness of UCTs compared with conditional cash transfers (CCTs; provided only if recipients follow prescribed behaviours, e.g. use a health service or attend school) is unknown. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of UCTs on health services use and health outcomes in children and adults in LMICs. Secondary objectives are to assess the effects of UCTs on social determinants of health and healthcare expenditure, and to compare the effects of UCTs versus CCTs. SEARCH METHODS For this update, we searched 15 electronic academic databases, including CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EconLit, in September 2021. We also searched four electronic grey literature databases, websites of key organisations and reference lists of previous systematic reviews, key journals and included study records. SELECTION CRITERIA We included both parallel-group and cluster-randomised controlled trials (C-RCTs), quasi-RCTs, cohort studies, controlled before-and-after studies (CBAs), and interrupted time series studies of UCT interventions in children (0 to 17 years) and adults (≥ 18 years) in LMICs. Comparison groups received either no UCT, a smaller UCT or a CCT. Our primary outcomes were any health services use or health outcome. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently screened potentially relevant records for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. We obtained missing data from study authors if feasible. For C-RCTs, we generally calculated risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes from crude frequency measures in approximately correct analyses. Meta-analyses applied the inverse variance or Mantel-Haenszel method using a random-effects model. Where meta-analysis was impossible, we synthesised results using vote counting based on effect direction. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using GRADE. MAIN RESULTS We included 34 studies (25 studies of 20 C-RCTs, six CBAs, and three cohort studies) involving 1,140,385 participants (45,538 children, 1,094,847 adults) and 50,095 households in Africa, the Americas and South-East Asia in our meta-analyses and narrative syntheses. These analysed 29 independent data sets. The 24 UCTs identified, including one basic universal income intervention, were pilot or established government programmes or research experiments. The cash value was equivalent to 1.3% to 81.9% of the annualised gross domestic product per capita. All studies compared a UCT with no UCT; three studies also compared a UCT with a CCT. Most studies carried an overall high risk of bias (i.e. often selection or performance bias, or both). Most studies were funded by national governments or international organisations, or both. Throughout the review, we use the words 'probably' to indicate moderate-certainty evidence, 'may/maybe' for low-certainty evidence, and 'uncertain' for very low-certainty evidence. Health services use We assumed greater use of any health services to be beneficial. UCTs may not have impacted the likelihood of having used any health service in the previous 1 to 12 months, when participants were followed up between 12 and 24 months into the intervention (risk ratio (RR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00 to 1.09; I2 = 2%; 5 C-RCTs, 4972 participants; low-certainty evidence). Health outcomes At one to two years, UCTs probably led to a clinically meaningful, very large reduction in the likelihood of having had any illness in the previous two weeks to three months (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.92; I2 = 53%; 6 C-RCTs, 9367 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). UCTs may have increased the likelihood of having been food secure over the previous month, at 13 to 36 months into the intervention (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.45; I2 = 85%; 5 C-RCTs, 2687 participants; low-certainty evidence). UCTs may have increased participants' level of dietary diversity over the previous week, when assessed with the Household Dietary Diversity Score and followed up 24 months into the intervention (mean difference (MD) 0.59 food categories, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.01; I2 = 79%; 4 C-RCTs, 9347 participants; low-certainty evidence). Despite several studies providing relevant evidence, the effects of UCTs on the likelihood of being moderately stunted and on the level of depression remain uncertain. We found no study on the effect of UCTs on mortality risk. Social determinants of health UCTs probably led to a clinically meaningful, moderate increase in the likelihood of currently attending school, when assessed at 12 to 24 months into the intervention (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.09; I2 = 0%; 8 C-RCTs, 7136 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). UCTs may have reduced the likelihood of households being extremely poor, at 12 to 36 months into the intervention (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.97; I2 = 63%; 6 C-RCTs, 3805 participants; low-certainty evidence). The evidence was uncertain for whether UCTs impacted livestock ownership, participation in labour, and parenting quality. Healthcare expenditure Evidence from eight cluster-RCTs on healthcare expenditure was too inconsistent to be combined in a meta-analysis, but it suggested that UCTs may have increased the amount of money spent on health care at 7 to 36 months into the intervention (low-certainty evidence). Equity, harms and comparison with CCTs The effects of UCTs on health equity (or unfair and remedial health inequalities) were very uncertain. We did not identify any harms from UCTs. Three cluster-RCTs compared UCTs versus CCTs with regard to the likelihood of having used any health services or had any illness, or the level of dietary diversity, but evidence was limited to one study per outcome and was very uncertain for all three. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS This body of evidence suggests that unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) may not impact a summary measure of health service use in children and adults in LMICs. However, UCTs probably or may improve some health outcomes (i.e. the likelihood of having had any illness, the likelihood of having been food secure, and the level of dietary diversity), two social determinants of health (i.e. the likelihoods of attending school and being extremely poor), and healthcare expenditure. The evidence on the relative effectiveness of UCTs and CCTs remains very uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Pega
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Roman Pabayo
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Claire Benny
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Eun-Young Lee
- School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Stefan K Lhachimi
- Research Group for Evidence-Based Public Health, Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Sze Yan Liu
- Public Health, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
- Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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Access to Social Protection by People Living with, at Risk of, or Affected by HIV in Eswatini, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia: Results from Population-Based HIV Impact Assessments. AIDS Behav 2022; 26:3068-3078. [PMID: 35316470 PMCID: PMC8938650 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03645-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to measure social protection coverage among the general population, women and men living with HIV (WLHIV, MLHV), female and male sex workers (FSW, MSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), adolescent girls young women (AGYW), and orphans vulnerable children (OVC) in Eswatini, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia. We used Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment data. We operationalised social protection benefits as external economic support from private and public sources to the household in the last three or 12 months. We estimated survey-weighted proportions and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each population receiving social protection benefits. The sample size ranged from 10,233 adults ages 15-59 years in Eswatini to 29,638 in Tanzania. In the surveyed countries, social protection coverage among the general population was lower than the global average of 45%, ranging from 7.7% (95% CI 6.7%-8.8%) in Zambia to 39.6% (95% CI 36.8%-42.5%) in Eswatini. In Malawi and Zambia, social protection coverage among OVC, AGYW, SW, MSM, and people living with HIV (PLHIV) was similar to the general population. In Eswatini, more AGWY reported receiving social projection benefits than older women and more men not living with HIV reported receiving social protection benefits than MLHIV. In Tanzania, more WLHIV than women not living with HIV, MLHIV than men not living with HIV, and FSW than women who were not sex workers reported receiving social protection benefits. More data on access to social protection benefits by PLHIV or affected by HIV are needed to estimate better their social protection coverage.
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Rasella D, Morais GADS, Anderle RV, da Silva AF, Lua I, Coelho R, Rubio FA, Magno L, Machado D, Pescarini J, Souza LE, Macinko J, Dourado I. Evaluating the impact of social determinants, conditional cash transfers and primary health care on HIV/AIDS: Study protocol of a retrospective and forecasting approach based on the data integration with a cohort of 100 million Brazilians. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265253. [PMID: 35316304 PMCID: PMC8939793 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the great progress made over the last decades, stronger structural interventions are needed to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Brazil is one of the largest and data-richest LMIC, with rapidly changing socioeconomic characteristics and an important HIV/AIDS burden. Over the last two decades Brazil has also implemented the world’s largest Conditional Cash Transfer programs, the Bolsa Familia Program (BFP), and one of the most consolidated Primary Health Care (PHC) interventions, the Family Health Strategy (FHS). Objective We will evaluate the effects of socioeconomic determinants, BFP exposure and FHS coverage on HIV/AIDS incidence, treatment adherence, hospitalizations, case fatality, and mortality using unprecedently large aggregate and individual-level longitudinal data. Moreover, we will integrate the retrospective datasets and estimated parameters with comprehensive forecasting models to project HIV/AIDS incidence, prevalence and mortality scenarios up to 2030 according to future socioeconomic conditions and alternative policy implementations. Methods and analysis We will combine individual-level data from all national HIV/AIDS registries with large-scale databases, including the “100 Million Brazilian Cohort”, over a 19-year period (2000–2018). Several approaches will be used for the retrospective quasi-experimental impact evaluations, such as Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD), Random Administrative Delays (RAD) and Propensity Score Matching (PSM), combined with multivariable Poisson regressions for cohort analyses. Moreover, we will explore in depth lagged and long-term effects of changes in living conditions and in exposures to BFP and FHS. We will also investigate the effects of the interventions in a wide range of subpopulations. Finally, we will integrate such retrospective analyses with microsimulation, compartmental and agent-based models to forecast future HIV/AIDS scenarios. Conclusion The unprecedented datasets, analyzed through state-of-the-art quasi-experimental methods and innovative mathematical models will provide essential evidences to the understanding and control of HIV/AIDS epidemic in LMICs such as Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Rasella
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | | | - Iracema Lua
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Coelho
- Department of Chronic Conditions and Sexually Transmitted Infections/Department of Health Surveillance/Ministry of Health (DCCI/SVS/MS), Brasília, Brazil
| | - Felipe Alves Rubio
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Laio Magno
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Life Science Department, University of the State of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Daiane Machado
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Julia Pescarini
- Center for Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Luis Eugênio Souza
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - James Macinko
- UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Inês Dourado
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
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McGuire J, Kaiser C, Bach-Mortensen AM. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of cash transfers on subjective well-being and mental health in low- and middle-income countries. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:359-370. [DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01252-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Ramponi F, Nkhoma D, Griffin S. Informing decisions with disparate stakeholders: cross-sector evaluation of cash transfers in Malawi. Health Policy Plan 2022; 37:140-151. [PMID: 34791229 PMCID: PMC8757493 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Malawi is a cross-sectoral policy with impacts on health, education, nutrition, agriculture and welfare. Implementation of the SCTP requires collaboration across sectors and across national and international stakeholders. Economic evaluation can inform investment by indicating whether benefits exceed costs, but economic evaluations that provide an overall benefit-cost ratio typically assume a common agreed objective and agreed set of value judgements. In reality, the various stakeholders involved in the delivery of the SCTP may have different remits and objectives and may differ in how they value the impacts of the programme. We use the SCTP as a case study to illustrate a cross-sectoral analytical framework that accounts for these differences. The stakeholders that contribute to the SCTP include the Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and Global Fund. We estimate how the SCTP changes outcomes in education, health, net production and poverty, and distinguish outcomes in three groups: SCTP recipients; population in Malawi not eligible for the SCTP and population in other countries. After estimating the direct effects and opportunity costs from investing in the SCTP, we summarize the results according to different perspectives. The SCTP is estimated to provide benefits in excess of costs from the perspective of national stakeholders. From the perspective of an international donor interested in health outcomes, its health benefits do not outweigh the opportunity costs unless health improvement in SCTP recipients is valued at 18 times that of other potential spending beneficiaries or the donor values broader outcomes than health alone. This work illustrates the potential of a cross-sectoral economic evaluation to guide debate about stakeholder contributions to the SCTP, and the value judgements required to favour the SCTP above other policy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ramponi
- Centre for Health Economics, Alcuin A Block, University of York Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona Carrer Rosselló 132, E-08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dominic Nkhoma
- Health Economics and Policy Unit, College of Medicine, Lilongwe Campus, University of Malawi, P. O. Box 3055, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
| | - Susan Griffin
- Centre for Health Economics, Alcuin A Block, University of York Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
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van Daalen KR, Dada S, James R, Ashworth HC, Khorsand P, Lim J, Mooney C, Khankan Y, Essar MY, Kuhn I, Juillard H, Blanchet K. Impact of conditional and unconditional cash transfers on health outcomes and use of health services in humanitarian settings: a mixed-methods systematic review. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:e007902. [PMID: 35078813 PMCID: PMC8796230 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cash transfers, payments provided by formal or informal institutions to recipients, are increasingly used in emergencies. While increasing autonomy and being supportive of local economies, cash transfers are a cost-effective method in some settings to cover basic needs and extend benefits of limited humanitarian aid budgets. Yet, the extent to which cash transfers impact health in humanitarian settings remains largely unexplored. This systematic review evaluates the evidence on the effect of cash transfers on health outcomes and health service utilisation in humanitarian contexts. METHODS Studies eligible for inclusion were peer reviewed (quantitative,qualitative and mixed-methods). Nine databases (PubMed, EMBAS, Medline, CINAHL, Global Health, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, SciELO and LiLACS) were searched without language and without a lower bound time restriction through 24 February 2021. The search was updated to include articles published through 8 December 2021. Data were extracted using a piloted extraction tool and quality was assessed using The Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Tool. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, results were synthesised narratively and no meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS 30 673 records were identified. After removing duplicates, 17 715 were double screened by abstract and title, and 201 in full text. Twenty-three articles from 16 countries were included reporting on nutrition outcomes, psychosocial and mental health, general/subjective health and well-being, acute illness (eg, diarrhoea, respiratory infection), diabetes control (eg, blood glucose self-monitoring, haemoglobin A1C levels) and gender-based violence. Nineteen studies reported some positive impacts on various health outcomes and use of health services, 11 reported no statistically significant impact on outcomes assessed and 4 reported potential negative impacts on health outcomes. DISCUSSION Although there is evidence to suggest a positive relationship between cash transfers and health outcomes in humanitarian settings, high-quality empirical evidence, that is methodologically robust, investigates a range of humanitarian settings and is conducted over longer time periods is needed. This should consider factors influencing programme implementation and the differential impact of cash transfers designed to improve health versus multipurpose cash transfers. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021237275.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Robin van Daalen
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sara Dada
- UCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education and Innovation in Health Systems, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rosemary James
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, UK
| | | | | | - Jiewon Lim
- School of Medicine, NUI Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Ciaran Mooney
- Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, Belfast, Antrim, UK
| | - Yasmeen Khankan
- Department of Biology, Siena Heights University, Adrian, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Isla Kuhn
- Medical Library, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Helene Juillard
- Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, University of Geneva, Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karl Blanchet
- Global Health Development, University of Geneva Faculty of Medicine, Geneve, Switzerland
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Hadis M, Solomon D, Mideksa S, Bogale F, Gebreyohannes Y. Effectiveness of conditional cash transfers for uptake and retention in HIV prevention of mother-to-child transmission services in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol. JBI Evid Synth 2021; 20:1120-1126. [PMID: 34839314 DOI: 10.11124/jbies-21-00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This systematic review will identify and synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers for the uptake and retention in prevention of mother-to-child transmission services in pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV infection in low- and middle-income countries. INTRODUCTION Regardless of the effectiveness of prevention of mother-to-child transmission services, uptake and retention in such services remains poor in low- and middle-income countries. This review intends to evaluate the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers in improving uptake and retention in such services for pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV infection. INCLUSION CRITERIA This review will consider studies that evaluate the impact of conditional cash transfers on uptake and retention in prevention of mother-to-child transmission services in pregnant and/or breastfeeding women with HIV. Studies will compare conditional cash transfers with no intervention or other interventions. Only studies carried out in low- and middle-income countries will be eligible for inclusion. METHODS Eight databases will be searched. Publication status will not be considered as a criterion for inclusion. Studies published in English since 2000 will be considered, because prevention of mother-to-child transmission services were first introduced in that year. Following the search, two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts against the inclusion criteria, critically appraise eligible studies for methodological quality using JBI critical appraisal tools, and extract data from included studies using a standardized data extraction tool. Where possible, quantitative data will be pooled using statistical meta-analysis. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO CRD42021236729.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamuye Hadis
- Technology Transfer and Research Translation Directorate, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ethiopian Knowledge Translation Group for Health: A JBI Affiliated Group, Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Pathare S, Burgess RA, Collins PY. World Mental Health Day: prioritise social justice, not only access to care. Lancet 2021; 398:1859-1860. [PMID: 34627493 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)02232-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Soumitra Pathare
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune 411004, India.
| | - Rochelle A Burgess
- UCL Institute for Global Health, UCL Centre for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pamela Y Collins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, Seattle, WA, USA
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Aylward AF, Anderson JE, Morris A, Bush M, Schmitthenner B, Shams RB, Omofoye F, Bodepudi S, Roche H, Cimpian J, Wardlow L, Platts-Mills TF. Using malnutrition and food insecurity screening to identify broader health-related social needs amongst older adults receiving emergency department care in the Southeastern United States: A cross-sectional study. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2021; 29:e420-e430. [PMID: 33825280 PMCID: PMC10231411 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Unmet health-related social needs are common amongst older US adults and impact both quality of life and health outcomes. One of the ways that unmet health-related social needs impact health is through malnutrition, an imbalance in a person's intake of energy and/or nutrients. Lack of reliable access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food is a specific health-related social need that can be assessed rapidly and, when unmet, is a direct risk factor for malnutrition and may be indicative of a broader range of unmet health-related social needs. We conducted a cross-sectional study to characterise malnutrition and food insecurity amongst older adults receiving emergency department (ED) care using brief, validated measures and to assess the burden of a broader range of health-related social needs amongst these patients. Patients were asked about their need for and willingness to receive a range of social services. The study was conducted in an academic ED serving a racially and socioeconomically diverse population in the Southeastern United States. A convenience sample of noncritically ill adults aged 60 years and older was approached between November 2018 and April 2019. Study patients (n = 127) were predominantly non-Hispanic white (67%), community dwelling (91%) and urban residents (66%) with 28% screening positive for malnutrition risk, 16% for food insecurity and 5% for both. Of those at risk for malnutrition, 25 (69%) reported ≥2 unmet health-related social needs and 14 (38%) were receptive to social services. Amongst food insecure patients, 18 (90%) reported additional unmet health-related social needs and 13 (65%) were receptive to receiving social services. In conclusion, a brief set of questions can identify subgroups of older ED patients who are food insecure or at risk for malnutrition. Individuals who screen positive for food insecurity have a high burden of unmet health-related social needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen F. Aylward
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Montika Bush
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Rayad Bin Shams
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Folafunmi Omofoye
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Santosh Bodepudi
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Heidi Roche
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julia Cimpian
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Kromydas T, Thomson RM, Pulford A, Green MJ, Katikireddi SV. Which is most important for mental health: Money, poverty, or paid work? A fixed-effects analysis of the UK Household Longitudinal Study. SSM Popul Health 2021; 15:100909. [PMID: 34584931 PMCID: PMC8455855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relative importance of income, poverty and unemployment status for mental health is unclear, and understanding this has implications for income and welfare policy design. We aimed to assess the association between changes in these exposures and mental health. METHODS We measured effects of three transition exposures between waves of the UK Household Longitudinal Study from 2010/11-2019/20 (n=38,697, obs=173,859): income decreases/increases, moving in/out of poverty, and job losses/gains. The outcome was General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), which measures likelihood of common mental disorder (CMD) as a continuous (GHQ-36) and binary measure (score ≥4 = case). We used fixed-effects linear and linear probability models to adjust for time invariant and time-varying confounders. To investigate effect modification, we stratified analyses by age, sex and highest education. RESULTS A 10% income decrease/increase was associated with a 0.02% increase (95% CI 0.00, 0.04) and 0.01% reduction (95% CI -0.03, 0.02) in likelihood of CMD respectively. Effect sizes were larger for moving into poverty (+1.8% [0.2, 3.5]), out of poverty (-1.8%, [-3.2, -0.3]), job loss (+15.8%, [13.6, 18.0]) and job gain (-11.4%, [-14.4, -8.4]). The effect of new poverty was greater for women (+2.3% [0.8, 3.9] versus +1.2% [-1.1, 3.5] for men) but the opposite was true for job loss (+17.8% [14.4, 21.2] for men versus +13.5% [9.8, 17.2] for women). There were no clear differences by age, but those with least education experienced the largest effects from poverty transitions, especially moving out of poverty (-2.9%, [-5.7, -0.0]). CONCLUSIONS Moving into unemployment was most strongly associated with CMD, with poverty also important but income effects generally much smaller. Men appear most sensitive to employment transitions, but poverty may have larger impacts on women and those with least education. As the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, minimising unemployment as well as poverty is crucial for population mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theocharis Kromydas
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M Thomson
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Pulford
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Public Health Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Green
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - S Vittal Katikireddi
- MRC/CSO Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Public Health Scotland, United Kingdom
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Tossou Y. COVID-19 and the impact of cash transfers on health care use in Togo. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:882. [PMID: 34452611 PMCID: PMC8397330 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06895-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cash transfer program during pandemics provide a social protection mechanism to improve the health of the most vulnerable households. This article analysis the impact of cash transfers on household demand for health care during Covid-19. Methods Using data from the survey conducted from 8th to 17th July 2020 covering all 44 districts in the 6 health regions of Togo under the direction of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), we used propensity score matching and the ESR model. These models allow us to analysis the impact of cash transfers on health care use during Covid-19. Results Analysis of the results shows a positive impact of cash transfers on the use of health care services in Togo for beneficiary households. In addition, the health insurance promotes the use of health care among households’ socio-economic factors. Conclusion This cash transfer program is an effective approach to improving access to health care services for the most vulnerable households, particularly in the most disadvantaged settings. Thus, policy makers need to extend these cash transfers to a large part of the population during this Covid-19 health crisis as it has a positive impact on the demand for health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaovi Tossou
- Economics Department, University of Lome, Lome, Togo. .,Member of the Research Centre for Economic Analysis of Public Policies (ANEPP), FASEG/University of Lome, Lomé, 01BP1515, Togo.
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41
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Gonsamo DD, Lo HHM, Chan KL. The Role of Stomach Infrastructures on Children's Work and Child Labour in Africa: Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:8563. [PMID: 34444309 PMCID: PMC8391661 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Child labour remains a prevalent global concern, and progress toward eradicating harmful children's work appears to have stalled in the African continent and henceforth, integrated social policy intervention is still required to address the problem. Among several forms of social policy interventions, stomach infrastructure (i.e., in-kind and/or cash transfers) have been a key policy approach to support vulnerable families to lighten households' resources burden, which forces them to consider child labour as a coping strategy. There is growing evidence on the impacts of these programs in child labour. However, this evidence is often mixed regarding children's work outcomes, and the existing studies hardly describe such heterogeneous outcomes from the child-sensitive approach. To this end, a systematic literature search was conducted for studies in African countries. From 743 references retrieved in this study, 27 studies were included for the review, and a narrative approach has been employed to analyse extracted evidence. Results from the current study also demonstrate a mixed effect of in-kind and cash transfers for poor households on child labour decisions. Hence, the finding from the current review also demonstrates a reduced participation of children in paid and unpaid work outside the household due to in-kind and cash transfers to poor households, but children's time spent in economic and non-economic household labour and farm and non-farm labour, which are detrimental to child health and schooling, has been reported increasing due to the program interventions. The question remains how these programs can effectively consider child-specific and household-related key characteristics. To this end, a child-sensitive social protection perspective has been applied in this study to explain these mixed outcomes to inform policy design.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ko Ling Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong; (D.D.G.); (H.H.M.L.)
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Bliznashka L, Yousafzai AK, Asheri G, Masanja H, Sudfeld CR. Effects of a community health worker delivered intervention on maternal depressive symptoms in rural Tanzania. Health Policy Plan 2021; 36:473-483. [PMID: 33313814 PMCID: PMC8128007 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czaa170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Maternal depression affects one in four women in sub-Saharan Africa, yet evidence on effective and scalable interventions is limited. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of a community health worker (CHW) delivered home visit responsive stimulation, health and nutrition intervention, and conditional cash transfers (CCTs) for antenatal care and child growth monitoring attendance on maternal depressive symptoms. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 12 villages in rural Ifakara, Tanzania (September 2017 to May 2019). Study villages were randomly assigned to one of three arms: (1) CHW, (2) CHW + CCT and (3) Control. Pregnant women and mothers with a child <12 months were enrolled. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using a Tanzanian-adapted version of the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) after 18 months of follow-up. We used linear mixed-effects models to estimate intervention effects on HSCL-25 scores. Results showed that the CHW intervention significantly reduced HSCL-25 scores as compared with control [unadjusted mean difference (MD) −0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.47, −0.15]. The CHW + CCT intervention also appeared to lower HSCL-25 scores (MD −0.17, 95% CI −0.33, −0.01), but results were not statistically significant. Our findings showed that a low-intensity CHW-delivered home visit responsive stimulation, health and nutrition intervention, which did not explicitly aim to improve mental health, reduced maternal depressive symptoms, though the precise mechanisms of action remain unknown. CCTs for antenatal care and child growth monitoring appeared to provide limited to no additional benefit. Community-based integrated interventions that broadly consider maternal and child health, development and well-being have the potential to promote maternal mental health in rural Tanzania and similar settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilia Bliznashka
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Building 1, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Aisha K Yousafzai
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Building 1, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Geofrey Asheri
- Ifakara Health Institute, Plot 463, Kiko Avenue Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Honorati Masanja
- Ifakara Health Institute, Plot 463, Kiko Avenue Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Christopher R Sudfeld
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Building 1, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Building 1, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Rao KD, Kachwaha S, Kaplan A, Bishai D. Not just money: what mothers value in conditional cash transfer programs in India. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 5:bmjgh-2020-003033. [PMID: 33087391 PMCID: PMC7580051 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Conditional cash transfers (CCTs) have become an important policy tool for increasing demand for key maternal and child health services in low/middle-income countries. Yet, these programs have had variable success in increasing service use. Understanding beneficiary preferences for design features of CCTs can increase program effectiveness. Methods We conducted a Discrete choice experiment in two districts of Uttar Pradesh, India in 2018 with 405 mothers with young children (<3 years). Respondents were asked to choose between hypothetical CCT programme profiles described in terms of five attribute levels (cash, antenatal care visits, growth-monitoring and immunisation visits, visit duration and health benefit received) and responses were analysed using mixed logit regression. Results Mothers most valued the cash transfer amount, followed by the health benefit received from services. Mothers did not have a strong preference for conditionalities related to the number of health centre visits or for time spent seeking care; however, service delivery points were in close proximity to households. Mothers were willing to accept lower cash rewards for better perceived health benefits—they were willing to accept 2854 Indian rupees ($41) less for a programme that produced good health, which is about half the amount currently offered by India’s Maternal Benefits Program. Mothers who had low utilisation of health services, and those from poor households, valued the cash transfer and the health benefit significantly more than others. Conclusion Both cash transfers and the perceived health benefit from services are highly valued, particularly by infrequent service users. In CCTs, this highlights the importance of communicating value of services to beneficiaries by informing about health benefits of services and providing quality care. Conditionalities requiring frequent health centre visits or time taken for seeking care may not have large negative effects on CCT participation in contexts of good service coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna D Rao
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shivani Kachwaha
- Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division, International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Avril Kaplan
- International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David Bishai
- Family and Population Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Perera C, Bakrania S, Ipince A, Nesbitt‐Ahmed Z, Obasola O, Richardson D. PROTOCOL: Impact of social protection on gender equality in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of reviews. CAMPBELL SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2021; 17:e1161. [PMID: 37051182 PMCID: PMC8356277 DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This is the protocol for a Campbell review. The review aims to systematically collect, appraise, map and synthesise the evidence from systematic reviews on the differential gender impacts of social protection programmes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Therefore, it will answer the following questions: (1) What is known from systematic reviews on the gender-differentiated impacts of social protection programmes in LMICs? (2) What is known from systematic reviews about the factors that determine these gender-differentiated impacts? (3) What is known from existing systematic reviews about design and implementation features of social protection programmes and their association with gender outcomes?
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45
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Novignon J, Atakorah YB, Chijere Chirwa G. Exemption for the poor or the rich? An assessment of socioeconomic inequalities in Ghana's national health insurance exemption policies. Health Policy Plan 2021; 36:1058-1066. [PMID: 34050736 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Out-of-pocket payments for health are considered a major limitation to universal health coverage (UHC). Policymakers across the globe are committed to achieving UHC through the removal of financial barriers to health care. In Ghana, a national health insurance scheme was established for this purpose. A unique feature of the scheme is its premium exemption policies for vulnerable groups. In this article, we access the nature of socioeconomic inequality in these exemption policies. We used data from the Ghana Living Standards Survey rounds six and seven. Socioeconomic inequality was assessed using concentration curves and indices. Real household annual total consumption expenditure adjusted by adult equivalence scale was used as a wealth indicator. Four categories of exemption were used as outcome variables. These were exemptions for indigents, individuals <18 years, the aged and free maternal service. The analysis was also disaggregated by rural and urban locations of individuals. We found that while overall national health insurance scheme (NHIS) coverage was concentrated among the wealthy, all categories of premium exemption were concentrated among the poor. There was also evidence of a general decline in the magnitude of inequality over the survey years. With the specific exemptions, inequalities in exemption for indigents and maternal services were most relevant in rural locations, while inequalities in exemption for individuals <18 years and the aged were significant in urban areas. The findings suggest that the exemption policies under the NHIS are generally progressive and achieve the objective of inclusion for the underprivileged. However, it also provides lessons for better targeting and effective implementation. There may be a need for separate efforts to better target individuals in rural and urban locations to improve enrolment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Novignon
- Private Mail Bag, Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Yaw Boateng Atakorah
- Private Mail Bag, Department of Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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46
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Zimmerman A, Garman E, Avendano-Pabon M, Araya R, Evans-Lacko S, McDaid D, Park AL, Hessel P, Diaz Y, Matijasevich A, Ziebold C, Bauer A, Paula CS, Lund C. The impact of cash transfers on mental health in children and young people in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:e004661. [PMID: 33906845 PMCID: PMC8088245 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although cash transfer programmes are not explicitly designed to improve mental health, by reducing poverty and improving the life chances of children and young people, they may also improve their mental health. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the evidence on the effectiveness of cash transfers to improve the mental health of children and young people in low-income and middle-income countries. METHODS We searched Pubmed, EBSCOhost, Scientific Electronic Library Online, ISI Web of Science and Social Sciences Citation Index and grey literature (from January 2000 to July 2020) for studies which quantitatively assessed the impact of cash transfers on mental health in young people (aged 0-24 years), using a design that incorporated a control group. We extracted Cohen's d effects size and used a random-effects model for the meta-analysis on studies that measured depressive symptoms, I2 statistic and assessment of study quality. RESULTS We identified 12 116 articles for screening, of which 12 were included in the systematic review (covering 13 interventions) and seven in the meta-analysis assessing impact on depressive symptoms specifically. There was high heterogeneity (I2=95.2) and a high risk of bias (0.38, 95% CIs: -5.08 to 5.85; p=0.86) across studies. Eleven interventions (85%) showed a significant positive impact of cash transfers on at least one mental health outcome in children and young people. However, no study found a positive effect on all mental health outcomes examined, and the meta-analysis showed no impact of cash transfers on depressive symptoms (0.02, 95% CIs: -0.19 to 0.23; p=0.85). CONCLUSION Cash transfers may have positive effects on some mental health outcomes for young people, with no negative effects identified. However, there is high heterogeneity across studies, with some interventions showing no effects. Our review highlights how the effect of cash transfers may vary by social and economic context, culture, design, conditionality and mental health outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie Zimmerman
- Health Service & Population Research Department, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
- Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emily Garman
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mauricio Avendano-Pabon
- Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ricardo Araya
- Health Service & Population Research Department, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Sara Evans-Lacko
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - David McDaid
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - A-La Park
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Philipp Hessel
- Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Yadira Diaz
- Escuela de Gobierno Alberto Lleras Camargo, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Alicia Matijasevich
- Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carola Ziebold
- Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Annette Bauer
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Cristiane Silvestre Paula
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Crick Lund
- Health Service & Population Research Department, King's College London Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
- Alan J Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Cavazos-Rehg P, Byansi W, Xu C, Nabunya P, Bahar OS, Borodovsky J, Kasson E, Anako N, Mellins C, Damulira C, Neilands T, Ssewamala FM. The Impact of a Family-Based Economic Intervention on the Mental Health of HIV-Infected Adolescents in Uganda: Results From Suubi + Adherence. J Adolesc Health 2021; 68:742-749. [PMID: 32980245 PMCID: PMC7987910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study examines the extent to which three mental health measures (hopelessness, depression, and poor self-concept) are improved through a family-based economic intervention implemented among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda. METHODS We used repeated measures from Suubi + Adherence, a large-scale 6-year (2012-2018) longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Bivariate analyses were conducted to test for observable group differences between the intervention and control conditions. Multilevel piecewise repeated measure mixed models were then conducted to assess hypothesized time × intervention interaction in changes in hopelessness, depression, and self-concept using participant-specific follow-up intervals. RESULTS At 24-month postintervention initiation, adolescents in the intervention condition reported a statistically significant lower hopelessness score than adolescents in the control condition (4.79 vs. 5.56; p = .018; N = 358). At 36-month follow-up, the intervention condition reported a statistically significant lower score on depression in the depression subgroup (N = 344) than the control condition (4.94 vs. 5.81; p = .029). CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that family-based economic interventions such as Suubi + Adherence can effectively improve the mental health of adolescents living with HIV who evidenced mental health challenges at baseline. Given the promising positive effects of these interventions, at least in the short term, future studies should investigate strategies to promote the sustainability of these mental health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Cavazos-Rehg
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
| | - William Byansi
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Christine Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri,Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Proscovia Nabunya
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ozge Sensoy Bahar
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jacob Borodovsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Erin Kasson
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Nnenna Anako
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri,Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Claude Mellins
- Departments of Psychiatry and Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Christopher Damulira
- International Center for Child Health and Development, Masaka Field Office, Masaka, Uganda
| | - Torsten Neilands
- Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, California
| | - Fred M. Ssewamala
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
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Affiliation(s)
- Salil B Patel
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joel Kariel
- Department of Economics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Simpson J, Albani V, Bell Z, Bambra C, Brown H. Effects of social security policy reforms on mental health and inequalities: A systematic review of observational studies in high-income countries. Soc Sci Med 2021; 272:113717. [PMID: 33545493 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Evidence increasingly shows that changes to social security policies can affect population mental health. Thus, in the context of rising burden of mental illness, it is of major importance to better understand how expansions and contractions to the social security system may impact on mental health of both adults and children. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a synthesis of observational literature on the effects on mental health and inequalities in mental health of social security reforms. We conducted a systematic review of quantitative observational studies of specific national and regional social security policy changes in high-income countries and summarised the mental health effects of these policies. We searched seven electronic databases, including Medline, PsychInfo, Embase, CINAHL, ASSIA (Proquest), Scopus and Research Papers in Economics from January 1979 to June 2020. We included both objective and subjective mental health and wellbeing measures. The study quality was assessed using the Validity Assessment tool for econometric studies. We identified 13,403 original records, thirty-eight of which were included in the final review. Twenty-one studies evaluated expansionary social security policies and seventeen studies evaluated contractionary policies. Overall, we found that policies that improve social security benefit eligibility/generosity are associated with improvements in mental health, as reported by fourteen of the included studies. Social security policies that reduce eligibility/generosity were related to worse mental health, as reported by eleven studies. Ten studies found no effect for either policies contracting or expanding welfare support. Fourteen studies also evaluated the impact on mental health inequalities and found that contractionary policies tend to increase inequalities whereas expansionary policies have the opposite effect. Changes in social security policies can have significant effects on mental health and health inequalities across different recipient groups. Such health effects should be taken into account when designing future social policy reforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julija Simpson
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK.
| | - Viviana Albani
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Zoe Bell
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Clare Bambra
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
| | - Heather Brown
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4LP, UK
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Abstract
Financial resources are known to affect health outcomes. Many types of social policies and programs, including social assistance and social insurance, have been implemented around the world to increase financial resources. We refer to these as cash transfers. In this article, we discuss theory and evidence on whether, how, for whom, and to what extent purposeful cash transfers improve health. Evidence suggests that cash transfers produce positive health effects, but there are many complexities and variations in the outcomes. Continuing research and policy innovation-for example, universal basic income and universal Child Development Accounts-are likely to be productive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicong Sun
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA; , ,
| | - Jin Huang
- College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, USA;
| | - Darrell L Hudson
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA; , ,
| | - Michael Sherraden
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA; , ,
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