Thanks! Thats a great idea.

@hthirumurthy.bsky.social @pennidfellows.bsky.social @pennmehp.bsky.social @pennmedicine.bsky.social @madhupai.bsky.social

This paper builds on years of work with collaborators at @pennldi.bsky.social and @pih.org, and was supported by NICHD.

Read the full @thelancet.com study at this free 🔗: kwnsfk27.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F...

Together, these findings clarify how cash transfers save lives in LMICs. As countries debate scaling back or redesigning social protection programs, the health impacts should be central to the discussion.

We also saw evidence of a dose-response:

The strongest effects tended to occur in countries where cash transfers reached more people.

When we linked some of these determinants to subsequent child mortality data, they explained 63% of the previously observed mortality reduction.

and (4) improved child health outcomes:
• -6pp diarrheal illness
• -2pp underweight (–2 pp)
• +0.8/1000 male twin livebirths — a marker of improved fetal environment

(3) healthier caregiver behaviors:
• +14 pp exclusive breastfeeding
• +7 pp minimum acceptable diet
• +5 pp measles vaccination coverage

(2) reproductive empowerment:
• +2.5 mo longer interdelivery intervals
• +2 pp desired pregnancies
• -10 pp unmet need for contraception

Cash transfer programs were associated with (1) improvements in crucial drivers of maternal/newborn survival:
• +5 pp early antenatal care
• +7 pp facility deliveries
• +8 pp deliveries by skilled birth attendants

Using data from >2M births & nearly 1M children across 37 countries (2000–2019), we linked national cash transfer programs to 17 health-related outcomes.

We used a two-stage difference-in-differences design (Gardner) to estimate program effects, and adjusted for multiple comparisons.

Poverty drives many preventable deaths. Over 100 LMICs now use government-led cash transfer programs.

In our 2023 @nature.com study, we showed these programs *substantially reduced mortality among women and young children*

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

But how do they work? 👇

#Haiti #HIV #Pregnancy #CashTransfers

@louiseisainmdom.bsky.social @healthequityintl.bsky.social @pennldi.bsky.social @pennmedcso.bsky.social @pennmedresearch.bsky.social @pennmedicine.bsky.social

This study was conducted under extraordinarily difficult conditions in Haiti. Deep gratitude and congratulations to our incredible partners at St. Boniface Hospital and Health Equity International.

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

The heart of this paper lies in the participants’ voices:

“What can affect me taking them is the problem of not having the means… you know how life is right now. No money. Although things are like this, even when I don’t have food, I still try to take the medicine.”

Targeted poverty alleviation during pregnancy could address many of these barriers. Participants shared thoughtful perspectives on what such support might look like in practice, and raised importance concerns like the need the sure discreet, confidential delivery.

Women in our study were deeply committed to their own health and their babies’ health, yet faced profound challenges from poverty, food insecurity, and stigma.