Cash Benefits for Pregnancy

Age: < 65

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

Disqualifiers: Non-resident, High income, Non-childbearing age

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 10 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the impact of cash benefits on reproductive and perinatal health. Researchers will analyze data from a program in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where some residents received up to $400 monthly. Participants will join either the group that received cash or the group that did not. Ideal candidates are Chelsea residents of childbearing age with a household income at or below 30% of the area's median income. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to valuable research that could enhance community health outcomes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this cash benefit is safe for reproductive and perinatal health?

Research has shown that cash benefits can improve the health of pregnant women and their babies. Evidence suggests that financial support, such as cash payments, may reduce the risk of early births and low birth weight. For instance, studies have found that receiving an extra $1,000 during pregnancy can lower the chances of these health issues.

These findings indicate that cash benefits are generally safe and well-received. Unlike medical treatments, cash benefits do not cause side effects. Instead, they provide financial help that could lead to better health for mothers and their babies. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most prenatal support programs focus on healthcare services or nutritional supplements, but this trial is exploring something different: direct cash benefits. Researchers are excited about this approach because it empowers pregnant individuals with financial resources, giving them the flexibility to address their unique needs, whether that's improved nutrition, better prenatal care, or reducing stress by covering essential expenses. Unlike traditional support methods that offer specific services or goods, this cash benefit model provides autonomy and addresses broader social determinants of health, which could lead to improved outcomes for both mothers and babies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reproductive and perinatal health?

Research has shown that cash benefits for pregnant women can significantly improve their health and their babies' health. In this trial, participants in the treatment group will receive up to $400 per month as a cash benefit. One study found that such cash transfers reduced infant deaths by half. Another study linked these benefits to healthier newborns and mothers, with fewer babies born underweight and improved overall health. Additionally, prenatal care visits increased, and smoking during pregnancy decreased. Overall, cash benefits during pregnancy appear to lead to healthier births and better well-being for both mothers and babies. Participants in the control group will not receive monthly cash benefits. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Sumit D Agarwal, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for residents of Chelsea, Massachusetts with a household income at or below 30% of the HUD's Area Median Income and who are of childbearing age. It aims to understand how receiving extra cash might affect their reproductive and perinatal health.

Inclusion Criteria

You are a resident of Chelsea, Massachusetts.

You possess a household income which is not exceeding 30% of the U.S

You are of reproductive age and capable of bearing children.

Exclusion Criteria

There are no additional criteria for exclusion beyond the requirements for being included in the study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants in the treatment group received up to $400 per month for 10 months

10 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for reproductive and perinatal health outcomes after the treatment period

10 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Cash Benefit
• No Cash Benefit

Trial Overview The study looks at the effects of receiving a cash benefit versus no cash benefit on reproductive/perinatal health during COVID-19. It uses data from the Chelsea Eats program which provided money through a lottery over ten months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the treatment group received up to $400 per month.

Group II: Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the control group did not receive monthly cash benefits.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

Lead Sponsor

Trials

208

Recruited

1,421,000+

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

1,694

Recruited

14,790,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Women who participated in a prenatal health education program, including nutrition counseling and smoking cessation support, had a higher smoking cessation rate during pregnancy (49.1% vs. 37.5% in the control group) and a greater reduction in daily smoking rates.

Infants born to women in the experimental group had a higher average birth weight (121.34 oz vs. 113.64 oz) and fewer low birth weight cases (7.0% vs. 9.7%), leading to significant hospital cost savings and a benefit-cost ratio of approximately 2:1 for the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Behavioral, health, and cost outcomes of an HMO-based prenatal health education program. Ershoff, DH., Aaronson, NK., Danaher, BG., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12355286/

Birth and Early Childhood Outcomes in Families Receiving ... The study showed that receiving the benefit was initially associated with better health outcomes for newborns and mothers, including a lower ...

2. globalhealth.ox.ac.uk globalhealth.ox.ac.uk/news/study-finds-giving-pregnant-women-cash-transfers-cuts-infant-mortality-in-half

Study finds giving pregnant women cash transfers cuts infant ... Study finds giving pregnant women cash transfers cuts infant mortality in half ... A new study by the University of Oxford and the University of ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12083344/

Design, coverage and utilisation of maternity conditional cash ... We examined how the design, operationalisation and facilitation of maternity benefits programmes have evolved, and the advantages and challenges that accompany

4. emiguel.econ.berkeley.edu emiguel.econ.berkeley.edu/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Do_Cash_Transfers_Improve_Birth_Outcomes__Evidence_from_Matched_Vital_Statistics__and_Program_and_Social_Security_Data.pdf

Do Cash Transfers Improve Birth Outcomes? Evidence ... Unrestricted cash transfers during pregnancy were converted into improved child weight and well-being at birth, with few negative unintended consequences that ...

5. spotlightonpoverty.org spotlightonpoverty.org/spotlight-exclusives/new-research-shows-positive-impact-of-cash-for-moms-and-babies/

New Research Shows Positive Impact of Cash For Moms ... We see improvements in low-birth weight. We actually see increases in prenatal care. We see reductions in smoking in the third trimester. These ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10938935/

Prescription for Cash? Cash Support to Low‐Income Families ... Evidence increasingly suggests that income supports have an impact on pregnancy and child health outcomes. Comprehensive evidence from low‐ and ...

7. povertycenter.columbia.edu povertycenter.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/Publications/Cash-payments-during-pregnancy-CPSP-2023.pdf

Should Cash Payments Begin During Pregnancy? This brief reviews the research on the potential impact of cash delivered during pregnancy on birth and longer-term outcomes. This research ...

8. healthaffairs.org healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2024.01641

Expanded Child Tax Credit Payments During Pregnancy ... For every $1,000 in ECTC payments received during pregnancy, we observed decreased odds of preterm birth, low birthweight, and very low ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12171960/

Cash Transfers and Their Effect on Maternal and Young ... Monthly unconditional cash transfers totaling approximately $15 000 over 4 years to mothers with low incomes did not improve maternal mental ...

10. policylab.chop.edu policylab.chop.edu/blog/cash-transfers-and-healthy-birth-outcomes-promising-new-evidence-and-whats-next

Cash Transfers and Healthy Birth Outcomes - PolicyLab Our research demonstrated that receiving monthly eCTC payments during pregnancy improved families' odds of healthy births. However, by design, ...