title: The dynamic relationship between cash transfers and child health: can the child support grant in South Africa make a difference to child nutrition?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cash transfer programmes targeting children are considered an effective strategy for addressing child poverty and for improving child health outcomes in developing countries. In South Africa, the Child Support Grant (CSG) is the largest cash transfer programme targeting children from poor households. The present paper investigates the association of the duration of CSG receipt with child growth at 2 years in three diverse areas of South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study analysed data on CSG receipt and anthropometric measurements from children. Predictors of stunting were assessed using a backward regression model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paarl (peri-urban), Rietvlei (rural) and Umlazi (urban township), South Africa, 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (n 746), median age 22 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High rates of stunting were observed in Umlazi (28 %), Rietvlei (20 %) and Paarl (17 %). Duration of CSG receipt had no effect on stunting. HIV exposure (adjusted OR=2·30; 95 % CI 1·31, 4·03) and low birth weight (adjusted=OR 2·01, 95 % CI 1·02, 3·96) were associated with stunting, and maternal education had a protective effect on stunting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that, despite the presence of the CSG, high rates of stunting among poor children continue unabated in South Africa. We argue that the effect of the CSG on nutritional status may have been eroded by food price inflation and limited progress in the provision of other important interventions and social services.
authors.affiliation: 1Health Systems Research Unit,South African Medical Research Council,Francie van Zyl Drive,Parow Valley,Cape Town 7500,South Africa.
authors.forename: Wanga
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zembe-Mkabile
authors.affiliation: 1Health Systems Research Unit,South African Medical Research Council,Francie van Zyl Drive,Parow Valley,Cape Town 7500,South Africa.
authors.forename: Vundli
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramokolo
authors.affiliation: 2School of Public Health,University of the Western Cape,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.affiliation: 2School of Public Health,University of the Western Cape,Cape Town,South Africa.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: 1Health Systems Research Unit,South African Medical Research Council,Francie van Zyl Drive,Parow Valley,Cape Town 7500,South Africa.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067576:Child Health / Q000191:economics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005381:Financing, Organized; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006678:HIV; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007250:Inflation, Economic; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011632:Public Assistance; D012946:Social Welfare; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cash transfers; Child growth; Child health; Child poverty; Nutrition