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Lorena Moreno
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Analiti a, Revista de análisis estadístico, Vol. 13 (1), 2017
well-being of their children as well as their expectations of the value of investing in healthcare
(Behrman and Hoddinott, 2005).
On the consequences side of the problem, empirical literature has reported that the
failure of physical growth that leads to severe cases of undernutrition is highly correlated not
only with a deficit in cognitive development but a higher probability of children mortality
(Caulfield et al., 2004). For example, kids with iron deficiency are more prompt to have
lower IQ, memory problems and difficulties to develop social skills (Paxson and Schady,
2007). Additionally, stunting increases the risk of long-term chronic illnesses and disability
(Hoddinott et al., 2013) and permanently high prevalence of stunting reduces socio-economic
growth jeopardising full physical and mental development of all individuals (Kabubo-Mariara
et al., 2009).
In developing countries, the numerous constraints to interrupt the intergenerational vi-
cious nutrition-based poverty cycle, worsen the presented scenario. The lack of instruments
available for the parents to choose different patterns and for kids to take advantage of them is
a permanent concern of governments. Indeed, CCTs have become a popular strategy among
In developing countries, the numerous constraints to interrupt the intergenerational vicious
nutrition-based poverty cycle, worsen the presented scenario. The lack of instruments avail-
able for the parents to choose different patterns and for kids to take advantage of them is a
permanent concern of governments. Indeed, CCTs have become a popular strategy among
these nations since mid-nineties as part of their development agendas with the establishment
of the health condition.
CCTs include several components as mediators to improve children nutritional status.
The transfer itself is expected to translate into an increased nutritious consumption. As a
companion for this objective, meetings for nutritional guidance are planned on a regular basis.
Though, the most direct effect is implemented via the health checks condition. Specifically,
through vitamins, supplements and growth monitoring. For instance,
PROGRESA
, one of
the largest CCTs, which started in Mexico in 1997 (now called Oportunidades), includes
i)
pl´aticas
(meetings) conducted by health professionals in order to improve the knowledge
of the participants about child health; ii)
papilla
a differentiated supplement for pregnant
and lactating women and for children under 5 years, and iii) growth monitoring which is
mandatory before any benefit is given (Behrman and Hoddinott, 2005).
Likewise, other social strategies along Latin America and the Caribbean have imple-
mented actions driven by a common concern on the permanently high children stunting.
Simultaneously, impact evaluations to measure the effects of the strategies on efficiency
and equity have been directed by private and public sectors. The results on children an-
thropometric outcomes are more heterogeneous than, for instance, educational outcomes
(Ranganathan and Lagarde, 2012). In the following subsection, I present a brief review of
the most preeminent studies in the field.
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