Do cash transfers alleviate common mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: A large literature has demonstrated the link between poverty and mental ill-health. Yet, the potential causal effects of poverty alleviation measures on mental disorders are not well-understood. In this systematic review, we summarize the evidence of the effects of a particular kind of poverty alleviation mechanism on mental health: the provision of cash transfers in low- and middle-income countries. We searched eleven databases and websites and assessed over 4,000 studies for eligibility. Randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of cash transfers on depression, anxiety, and stress were included. All programs targeted adults or adolescents living in poverty. Overall, 17 studies, comprising 26,794 participants in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, met the inclusio

SUBMITTER: Wollburg C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9946251 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature