Work

Money and my mind: Maternal cash transfers and mental health

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: This paper documents important mental health spillovers in the context of a program that offered pregnant women modest cash incentives to use pre- and perinatal health care services. Program participation was randomized and the payments were made after the birth of the child (and after the completion of an endline mental health assessment). I present causal evidence that the program led to improvements in mothers' mental health. The effect size ranges from a 1-3 percentage point reduction in postpartum depression measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. I present suggestive evidence that these beneficial effects on mental health may be related to program-induced improvements in child health. These results provide novel evidence that programs designed to improve birth outcomes may generate unanticipated spillover effects on mental health.

Source: Health Economics

DOI: 10.1002/hec.4398

Author: Edward N. Okeke

Institutions: RAND Corporation, RAND School of Public Policy

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, No poverty, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,850