SynthesisThe Journal of nutrition2021
Social Assistance Programs and Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Assessment of Nutrition and Health Pathways.
Synthesis in The Journal of nutrition, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The role of nutrition-sensitive interventions in improving nutritional outcomes: findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal for equity in health · 2025Pooled it
- Relationship of cash transfers with risk of overweight and obesity in children and adults: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2022Pooled it
- Factors associated with normal childbirth in Bangladesh: insights from BDHS 2022.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Getting back on track to meet global anaemia reduction targets: a Lancet Haematology Commission.The Lancet. Haematology · 2025Review
- Prematurity and Low Birth Weight Among Food-Secure and Food-Insecure Households: A Comparative Study in Surabaya, Indonesia.Nutrients · 2025Article
- Cash transfer program on pregnancy outcomes and infant growth in deprived pregnant and lactating mothers in iran: a field trial.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Financing for equity for women's, children's and adolescents' health in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.PLOS global public health · 2024Article
- The dose-response association between LEAP 1000 and birthweight - no clear mechanisms: a structural equation modeling approach.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2023Article
- Ghana's Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (1000) Program Seasonally Impacts Birthweight: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis.International journal of public health · 2023Article
- A realist review of interventions targeting maternal health in low- and middle-income countries.Women's health (London, England)Review
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPoor birth outcomes are an important global public health problem. Social assistance programs that provide cash or in-kind transfers, such as food or vouchers, hold potential to improve birth outcomes but the evidence on their effectiveness has not been reviewed.
objectivesWe systematically reviewed studies that used experimental or quasi-experimental methods to evaluate the impacts of social assistance programs on outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
methodsThe Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) system was used to assess the certainty of the evidence for birth weight and neonatal mortality (most common outcomes reported). We summarized the evidence on hypothesized nutrition and health pathways of impact.
resultsWe included 6 evaluations of 4 different cash transfer programs and 1 evaluation of a community-based participatory learning and action program that provided food and cash transfers. The 4 studies that assessed birth weight impacts found significant (P < 0.05) effects ranging from 31 to 578 g. Out of 3 studies that assessed neonatal mortality impacts, 2 found significant effects ranging from 0.6 to 3.1 deaths/1000 live births. The certainty of the evidence for both outcomes was rated as very low due to several methodological limitations. In terms of potential pathways, some studies documented positive effects on maternal diet, antenatal care (ANC) utilization, and delivery in a health facility.
conclusionsBetter-designed evaluations are needed to strengthen the evidence base on these programs. Evaluation studies should elucidate underlying mechanisms of impact by including outcomes related to maternal diet, ANC seeking, use of skilled delivery, and women's empowerment in nutrition and health domains. Studies should also assess potential unintended negative consequences of social assistance, such as reduced birth spacing and excess pregnancy weight gain.
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