Direct Cash Support for Maternal and Infant Health

(MBHW Trial)

Overseen By Khadija Jones Clinical Research Manager, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Columbia University

Disqualifiers: Terminal cancer, Severe addiction, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

1250 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how direct cash support can improve the health of pregnant women and their babies in the U.S. The study examines whether extra money aids baby growth, a mother's health, and access to quality healthcare and food. Participants will be divided into high and low cash groups to compare outcomes. The trial seeks pregnant women in their first or second trimester living in specific Appalachian areas, such as West Virginia, Ohio, or Kentucky. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could enhance maternal and infant health.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on financial support rather than medical treatments, so you may not need to change your medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that cash support for low-income families can improve health. Studies have found that direct cash transfers help families access healthcare, leading to better overall health. For example, these programs are linked to healthier births, better brain development in babies, and improved mental health for mothers.

These results suggest that cash support is safe and beneficial for both mothers and their babies. No known negative effects have been associated with receiving this financial help, making it a well-accepted option for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the trial for Direct Cash Support for Maternal and Infant Health because it explores a novel approach to improving health outcomes through financial assistance, rather than traditional medical interventions. Unlike standard healthcare practices that focus on medical treatments and prenatal care, this trial investigates how different levels of direct monetary support during pregnancy can influence maternal well-being, baby growth, access to healthcare, and decision-making. By comparing high and low financial support groups, researchers aim to uncover the potential of economic assistance to enhance health outcomes in economically challenged populations, offering insights that could reshape maternal and infant care strategies.

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

Research has shown that providing cash support to pregnant women and new mothers can improve health outcomes for both mothers and babies. In this trial, participants will be divided into two groups: the high-fee group and the low-fee group. One study found that additional financial support reduced the need for babies to stay in intensive care by 29%, resulting in fewer hospital visits. Another study demonstrated that giving pregnant women an extra $1,000 or more led to more full-term pregnancies and healthier baby weights. This suggests that financial support enables mothers to access better healthcare and make healthier choices for themselves and their babies. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Catherine Monk, PhD

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for pregnant women in the U.S., particularly those facing financial challenges. It's designed to see if direct cash support can improve health outcomes for them and their babies. Women must be willing to complete surveys and allow access to medical records.

Inclusion Criteria

* Living in any of the study sites: Appalachian regions (West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky)

* Being in the first or second trimester

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Enrollment and Baseline Survey

Participants complete a baseline survey upon enrollment

1 week

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

Intervention

Participants receive either a high or low cash allowance to evaluate the impact on maternal and infant health outcomes

18 months

Ongoing monitoring through surveys and medical record reviews

Follow-up

Participants complete follow-up surveys at 12 and 18 months after enrollment to assess health outcomes

6 months

2 visits (virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Direct Cash Support for Maternal and Infant Health (High fee)
• Direct Cash Support for Maternal and Infant Health (Low fee)

Trial Overview The study tests whether providing extra money during pregnancy and early motherhood (in high or low amounts) leads to better maternal and infant health. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive different levels of financial support.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Low fee group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the low-fee group will receive a smaller monetary allowance to explore the impact of moderate financial support on maternal and infant health outcomes. The intervention will assess whether financial assistance during pregnancy and early infancy improves baby growth, maternal well-being, healthcare access, and healthier food choices. By comparing this group to the high-fee group, the researchers aim to understand how different levels of financial support affect health outcomes in economically challenged populations.

Group II: High fee group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the high-fee group will receive a larger monetary allowance to evaluate the impact of increased financial support on the health outcomes of pregnant women and their babies. This intervention will assess whether greater financial resources during pregnancy and early infancy improve baby growth, maternal well-being, healthcare access, and healthier decision-making.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,529

Recruited

2,832,000+

The Bridge Project

Collaborator

Citations

1. rxkids.org rxkids.org/new-research-shows-cash-for-moms-and-babies-improves-health-stabilizes-families-and-saves-millions/

New Research Shows Cash for Moms and Babies ... These improvements resulted in approximately 29% reduction in NICU admissions, preventing nearly 60 costly hospitalizations annually and generating an estimated ...

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

Prescription for Cash? Cash Support to Low‐Income Families ... Although the Baby's First Years study does not demonstrate that cash support improves parental mental health or other infant outcomes, there is ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-maternal-and-child-health-outcomes-1-2025-d3696

Direct Cash Support for Maternal and Infant Health Research suggests that financial incentives, like direct cash support, can increase the use and quality of maternal health services by encouraging more women to ...

4. publichealth.msu.edu publichealth.msu.edu/news-items?view=article&id=658:new-research-shows-cash-for-moms-and-babies-improves-health-stabilizes-families-and-saves-millions&catid=2

New Research Shows Cash for Moms and Babies Improves ... These improvements resulted in approximately 29% reduction in NICU admissions, preventing nearly 60 costly hospitalizations annually and ...

5. economicsecurityproject.org economicsecurityproject.org/resource/micc-memo/

Cash Transfers Improve Maternal, Infant, and Child Health ... Cash Makes Childbirth Safer and Newborns Healthier. An extra $1000—or more—in direct cash during pregnancy increases full-term births and improves birthweight.

6. news-medical.net news-medical.net/news/20251110/Cash-transfer-programs-improve-health-outcomes-across-low-and-middle-income-countries.aspx

Cash transfer programs improve health outcomes across low Large-scale, government-led cash transfer programs drove significant improvements in health outcomes across low- and middle-income countries ...

7. gbpi.org gbpi.org/cash-supports-should-be-integrated-into-the-maternal-infant-health-policy-agenda/

Cash Supports Should be Integrated into the Maternal ... Rigorous research finds that cash programs have a direct impact on birth outcomes, babies' cognitive development, and maternal mental health.

8. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ofa/maternal-infant-health-dct-508.pdf

Maternal and Infant Health and Direct Cash Transfers Previous research has indicated that increased income through cash transfers may improve the health of mothers and infants: Increases in the Earned Income Tax ...