Effectiveness of the Brazilian Conditional Cash Transfer Program--Bolsa Alimentação--on the variation of linear and ponderal increment in children from northeast of Brazil.

Autor: Assis AM; School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia.. anamarluciaoliveira@gmail.com., Costa PR; School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia.. priscilarf@yahoo.com.br., Silva Mda C; School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia.. silvamcm@yahoo.com.br., Santana ML; School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia.. monicalportela@gmail.com., Pitangueira JC; Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia.. jack_cdias@hotmail.com., Fonseca NS; School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia.. nedjasantos@gmail.com., Pinheiro SM; Center of Exact Sciences and Technology, Federal University of Recôncavo of Bahia. Brazil.. sandramcpinheiro@yahoo.com.br., Santos SM; School of Nutrition, Federal University of Bahia.. sandra.mchaves@gmail.com.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nutricion hospitalaria [Nutr Hosp] 2014 Oct 03; Vol. 31 (2), pp. 689-97. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Oct 03.
DOI: 10.3305/nh.2015.31.2.7909
Abstrakt: Background: Social programs can improve the conditions required for families provide sufficient care and attention for an adequate health and nutrition.
Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Brazilian's conditional cash transfer program - Bolsa Alimentacao (PBA) on children anthropometric status.
Methods: A cohort of 1847 children, followed for 12 months: 1615 PBA children; 232 non-PBA. There were 316 (14.6%) missing children during the study. A quasi- experimental study adopting the before-after strategy was applied and the effectiveness approach was used to assess the impact of the program on children nutritional status. Multilevel analysis with three levels was used in the statistical analysis. The mean increment variations of height-for-age and weight-for-age were the outcome variables and the participation in the PBA was the exposition. Four participation groups were established: children not exposed to the program (internal control group); exposed to the program throughout the 12 months, exposed to the program only in the last 6 months; and exposed to the program only in the first 6 months. Repeated measures were obtained at baseline and at 12 months.
Results: It was found that the exposure to the program was associated to a mean variation in weight-for-age of 0.34 Z-score (IC=-0.44; 0.63) and height-for-age of 0.38 (IC=0.05; 0.70) for children who were regular program beneficiaries during the follow-up. The exposure to the program in other periods was not statistically associated with a mean variation in the indicators.
Conclusions: Cash transfers direct to the family were associated to anthropometric deficits reduction in childhood.
(Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE