Conditional cash transfers and women’s reproductive choices Summary

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Summary on the non-targeted effects of a large-scale national conditional cash transfer program—Peru’s Juntos—on the fertility and reproductive decisions of adult beneficiaries.

Image courtesy of interviewee. July 17, 2024

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The study investigates the impact of conditional cash transfers, specifically the Juntos program in Peru, on mothers' fertility in developing countries. The program provides monthly financial assistance to low-income households, contingent upon meeting certain educational and health conditions for their children. The findings reveal that the program significantly reduces fertility rates, particularly unplanned pregnancies, demonstrating a four percentage point decrease in total fertility, equating to about 0.14 fewer births per woman. This video reduction is linked to improved household welfare and maternal and child health. The cash transfers enhance access to modern contraception and empower women in decision-making, with effects lasting up to six years. Although traditional measures of empowerment may not show strong outcomes, reduced fertility could signify an indirect empowerment through greater access to birth control. The study emphasizes the need for better data and measures for development agencies.

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X-TIMESTAMP-MAP:LOCAL=00:00:00.000,MPEGTS=900000

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This study aimed to understand the impact

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of conditional cash transfers on mother's fertility

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in developing countries.

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The researchers focused on a program in Peru called Juntos,

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which provides monthly transfers to poor households

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with conditions related to children's education and health.

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The authors were interested in understanding the potential

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empowerment effect for mothers, allowing them

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to control their fertility and assert their preferences.

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The program was found

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to have strong negative effects on fertility,

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particularly unplanned pregnancies.

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The results suggest a four percentage point reduction in

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total fertility for women in treated districts translating

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to approximately 0.14 fewer births per woman

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after the program is implemented.

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These findings could contribute

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to improved household welfare and maternal and child health.

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The study found that cash transfers can have a positive

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impact on fertility outcomes

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and women's reproductive health.

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By increasing access to in use of modern contraception

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and improving women's decision making in household matters,

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the effects persist for up to six years

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after the cash transfer is made available.

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The author suggests

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that while there may not be strong results in traditional

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measures of empowerment,

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reduced excess fertility could indicate an indirect form

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of empowerment through access to birth control.

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Improving measures

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and understanding the underlying data is crucial

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for development agencies.

00:00 - This study aimed to understand the impact of conditional cash transfers on mother's fertility in developing countries. The researchers focused on a program in Peru called Juntos, which provides monthly transfers to poor households with conditions related to children's education and health.

00:18 - The authors were interested in understanding the potential empowerment effect for mothers, allowing them to control their fertility and assert their preferences. The program was found to have strong negative effects on fertility, particularly unplanned pregnancies. The results suggest a four percentage point reduction in total fertility for women in treated districts translating to approximately 0.14 fewer births per woman after the program is implemented.

00:47 - These findings could contribute to improved household welfare and maternal and child health. The study found that cash transfers can have a positive impact on fertility outcomes and women's reproductive health. By increasing access to in use of modern contraception and improving women's decision making in household matters, the effects persist for up to six years after the cash transfer is made available. The author suggests

01:16 - that while there may not be strong results in traditional measures of empowerment, reduced excess fertility could indicate an indirect form of empowerment through access to birth control. Improving measures and understanding the underlying data is crucial for development agencies.

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