Research reveals financial support for pregnant women significantly reduces infant mortality rates by half

Research reveals financial support for pregnant women significantly reduces infant mortality rates by half

In a groundbreaking study published today by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), Associate Professor Dennis Egger from the University of Oxford and a team of researchers have found that unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) given to pregnant women in rural Kenya significantly reduce infant and child mortality.

The study, titled 'Can Cash Transfers Save Lives: Evidence from a Large-Scale Experiment in Kenya', supports the powerful role of financial security during pregnancy and postpartum periods. The findings indicate that UCTs could contribute to reducing infant and child mortality rates, particularly among the poorest households.

The study reveals that UCTs of about USD 1,000 given to pregnant women around the time of birth reduce infant mortality by approximately 48-49% and child mortality under age five by about 45%. Key findings include:

• The large-scale cash transfers led to significantly fewer deaths from neonatal and maternal causes largely preventable by good obstetric care, indicating that UCTs complement access to quality delivery care.
• The transfers increased hospital deliveries by 45%, suggesting financial support enables better utilization of health services around childbirth.
• The mortality reductions were concentrated among the poorest households, those with below median assets or consumption, demonstrating the largest impact on the most vulnerable populations.
• Child nutrition improved and female labor supply decreased by 51% in the three months before and after birth, allowing mothers more time for rest and childcare.
• After the cash transfer program ended, infant and child mortality levels largely reverted back, suggesting the effect is strongly tied to ongoing financial support.

The research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial involving over 10,500 households and census data on more than 100,000 births across more than 650 villages, ensuring robust and credible evidence.

The study suggests that well-designed, unconditional cash transfers could potentially save lives in low-resource settings by enabling better health care access, improving maternal rest and nutrition, and alleviating poverty-related constraints during critical periods around childbirth. Access to quality healthcare appears to be a crucial complement in generating these effects.

In conclusion, the study offers compelling evidence from a large-scale randomized controlled trial of how direct financial support to expectant mothers can improve early childhood survival. The findings support the idea that unconditional cash transfers can be a cost-effective and impactful intervention to reduce infant and child mortality in low-resource settings.

1. The powerful role of financial security during pregnancy and postpartum periods was highlighted in a study on unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) in rural Kenya.
2. The study supports the potential of UCTs in reducing infant and child mortality rates, particularly among the poorest households.
3. The large-scale cash transfers led to significantly fewer deaths from neonatal and maternal causes, indicating that UCTs complement access to quality delivery care.
4. The transfers increased hospital deliveries by 45%, suggesting financial support enables better utilization of health services around childbirth.
5. The mortality reductions were concentrated among the poorest households, demonstrating the largest impact on the most vulnerable populations.
6. Child nutrition improved and female labor supply decreased by 51% in the three months before and after birth, allowing mothers more time for rest and childcare.
7. Access to quality healthcare appears to be a crucial complement in generating these effects.
8. After the cash transfer program ended, infant and child mortality levels largely reverted back, suggesting the effect is strongly tied to ongoing financial support.
9. The study reveals that UCTs of about USD 1,000 given to pregnant women around the time of birth reduce infant mortality by approximately 48-49% and child mortality under age five by about 45%.
10. The research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial involving over 10,500 households and census data on more than 100,000 births across more than 650 villages.
11. The study offers compelling evidence from a large-scale randomized controlled trial of how direct financial support to expectant mothers can improve early childhood survival.
12. The findings support the idea that unconditional cash transfers can be a cost-effective and impactful intervention to reduce infant and child mortality in low-resource settings.
13. Financial security during pregnancy and postpartum periods can play a significant role in reducing chronic diseases, medical conditions, and health-related issues.
14. Workplace-wellness programs could benefit from integrating UCTs as a means to support employees dealing with medical conditions or chronic diseases.
15. The global workforce is increasingly focused on workplace-wellness, which includes mental health, eye-health, hearing, and skin-care.
16. UCTs could contribute to reducing the instances of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke, in aging populations.
17. Health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition are essential components of a holistic approach to managing weight-management and preventing respiratory and digestive health issues.
18. The study's findings on hospital deliveries and healthcare access could have implications for the manufacturing industry as it relates to workplace-wellness policies and employee benefits.
19. Mental-health, including anxiety, depression, and stress, can be exacerbated by chronic diseases, chronic pain, and chronic medical conditions.
20. Men's health, particularly relating to prostate cancer, sexual health, and cardiovascular health, could see improvements with the implementation of UCTs for expectant fathers.
21. UCTs could potentially help address challenges related to environmental science, climate change, and the impact of pollution on overall health and wellness.
22. In the realm of environment-based industries, such as retail, energy, transportation, and real-estate, UCTs could be a step towards promoting diversity-and-inclusion and supporting underserved communities.
23. The study's findings could inspire the development of UCTs programs for entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and emerging ventures within the fintech, investing, wealth-management, and venture-capital sectors.
24. In the personal-finance space, UCTs could be used as a tool to support financial literacy and credit score improvement for individuals and families.
25. The banking-and-insurance industry could incorporate UCTs as a means of supporting customers facing medical conditions, especially those with autoimmune disorders, cance, or chronic diseases.
26. The use of wearables, including smartphones and smart home devices, could play a role in the delivery and monitoring of therapies-and-treatments for various medical conditions.
27. The study adds to the growing body of evidence on the potential benefits of UCTs in addressing various health-related issues, from reducing infant and child mortality to promoting overall wellness and quality of life.

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