Improving Perinatal Outcomes Using Conditional and Targeted Transfers

Improving Perinatal Outcomes Using Conditional and Targeted Transfers

It has been estimated that increasing the use of skilled care during childbirth could prevent up to 1.5 million maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2025. Conditional cash transfer programs, in which women receive cash payments conditioned on the use of maternal health services, are increasingly being used as a mechanism to increase uptake. In this study, the investigators randomly assign households to receive varying cash amounts conditioned on uptake of recommended pregnancy and delivery care. The investigators crosscut this with an intervention in which pregnant women receive information about their risk type. This randomized trial will provide new evidence about the potential efficacy of targeting cash transfers by pregnancy risk. This study will take place in 288 primary health service areas (HSAs) in Nigeria.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women ages 15-49 who reside in the participating health service areas

Exclusion Criteria:

• none