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Abstract
This paper summarises the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on cash transfers and child nutrition. The main purpose of the research is to assess the effectiveness of cash transfers in improving nutritional outcomes in vulnerable children in sub-Saharan Africa. Systematisation of the literary sources indicates that studies have justified cash transfer as social-income support that addresses a vital social determinant of health (income) for children in low-and-middle-income countries. The methodological basis of this study is a systematic review that searched a wide range of academic and grey literature databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. This study included cluster-randomised controlled trials (R.C.T.s), randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, mixed-methods studies, and non-randomised cluster trials. Studies included in this systematic review were screened for their eligibility. The systematic review uses the Cochrane data collection form to extract data from the included studies. It was not feasible to statistically combine the results of the studies due to the heterogeneity of most of the studies. Preferably, the review employs a narrative synthesis to present the estimated effects of cash transfers on children’s nutritional outcomes. The systematic review presents the results of data synthesis, of which eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the evidence from the systematic review indicates that cash transfer programmes targeted at children effectively improve anthropometric and nutritional outcomes. Further research is needed to spell out the multiple pathways to how cash transfers improve children’s nutritional outcomes. Moreover, this systematic review shows the importance of cash transfers in improving child nutrition. Policymakers should continue to employ institutional mechanisms to strengthen the nutritional status of children, especially the vulnerable ones since cash transfer intervention is a temporary measure.
Highlights
Over 200 million children between 0-5 years are not accomplishing their potential for socio-emotional development due to income poverty, poor health, and nutrition (Grantham-McGregor et al, 2007)
This study examines the interface between C.T. programmes and child health and nutritional status in selected sub-Saharan African countries
Six studies assessed the effects of five U.C.T. programmes and one C.C.T. programme on children’s height, and the results showed no programme effect across countries except in South Africa (Abdoulayi et al, 2016; Agüero et al, 2007; Evans et al, 2014; Gilligan et al, 2013; Grellety et al, 2017; Houngbe et al, 2017). (Table 4)
Summary
Over 200 million children between 0-5 years are not accomplishing their potential for socio-emotional development due to income poverty, poor health, and nutrition (Grantham-McGregor et al, 2007). Current evidence showed that at least more than 600 million children are affected by different dimensions of child poverty (Save the Children International and Africa Platform for Social Protection, 2017). Poverty is an anomaly that affects all parts of the world (Ekezie et al, 2017). It comes in various forms such as hunger and malnutrition, engagement in precarious work, childhood marriages, death during infancy and limited access to healthcare centres and education and other basic needs for human existence (Ekezie et al, 2017; Save the Children International and Africa Platform for Social Protection, 2017). The report reveals that “21% of girls (aged 15-19 years are currently married” (Save the Children International and Africa Platform for Social Protection, 2017:2)
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