Working Paper: NBER ID: w28443
Authors: Erica M. Field; Elisa M. Maffioli
Abstract: We experimentally evaluate the impact on child malnutrition of a maternal cash transfer program in Myanmar that was supplemented with Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) in a subset of villages. The combination of interventions significantly reduced the proportion of children stunted, while cash alone had no impact on stunting. SBCC appears to have worked in conjunction with cash to reduce stunting by encouraging mothers to increase children’s total calories and protein consumed. The findings provide evidence that information constraints contribute to low income-elasticity of calorie demand among malnourished populations, and underscore the importance of adding SBCC to cash transfer programs.
Keywords: cash transfers; child malnutrition; Myanmar; behavior change; nutrition interventions
JEL Codes: I12; I15; I38
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Maternal cash transfer program + SBCC (F35) | Reduction in stunting (O15) |
| Maternal cash transfer program (F35) | Reduction in stunting (O15) |
| SBCC + Maternal cash transfer program (J13) | Increase in dietary diversity (O13) |
| Increase in dietary diversity (O13) | Reduction in stunting (O15) |
| Maternal cash transfer program + SBCC (F35) | Increase in total food consumption (Q11) |