Empowering Women to Obtain High Quality Care: Evidence From an Evaluation of Mexico’s Conditional Cash Transfer Programme

Details

Research Team

​Sarah L. Barber, Paul J. Gertler

Topic

Health

Publication

Journal publication

Country

Mexico

Region

Latin America & Caribbean

Tags

conditional cash transfers, health services, quality of care

Study Overview

The objective is to evaluate the impact of Mexico’s conditional cash transfer programme on the quality of health care received by poor women. Quality is measured by maternal reports of prenatal care procedures received that correspond with clinical guidelines.

Study Results

Oportunidades beneficiaries received 12.2% more prenatal procedures compared with non-beneficiaries (adjusted mean 78.9, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 77.5–80.3; P < 0.001). The Oportunidades conditional cash transfer programme is associated with better quality of prenatal care for low-income, rural women in Mexico. This result is probably a manifestation of the programme's empowerment goal, by encouraging beneficiaries to be informed and active health consumers.

Intervention: Conditional cash transfer program