Impacts of Cash Transfers on Child Neurodevelopment (Auxilio Brasil)

Summary

This study examines the impact of Auxilio Brasil (AB), a cash transfer program to mothers of school-age children, on resource-deprived populations in Brazil and its protective effects on child neurodevelopment and mental health. The investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT) among those already receiving AB in which 300 families will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a high ($40/month) or low ($2/month) supplemental transfer for 2 years. Three hundred children (index child participants; 7-10 years old) will be enrolled across both study arms. Additionally, up to 150 siblings ("sibling participants;" 7-10 years old) will be enrolled. Eligible families who decide to participate will sign a study-specific informed consent (mother) and assent (child) form. The UNIFESP team will conduct the respective assessments at baseline, approximately 8- and 16- months, 24-months and approximately 6-months post-RCT.

Aim 1: Determine the impact of high vs low cash transfers on children's exposure to adversities (ACEs) and neurodevelopment.

Aim 2: Determine the impact of cash transfers on children's inflammatory markers and HPA activity/cortisol.

Exploratory Aim: The investigators will explore (i) whether sex/gender of the children moderates the pathways in the above mediation model; and (ii) whether cash transfer-related effects persist 6 months post-RCT.

Conditions

• Inflammation
• HPA
• CBCL
• Family Relations

Interventions

OTHER

Supplemental cash transfer

Supplemental cash transfer ($40/month)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  collaborator NIH

• New York State Psychiatric Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cristiane Duarte, PhD · New York State Psychiatric Institute

• Andrea Jackowsi, PhD · Federal University of São Paulo

• Jonathan Posner, MD · Duke University

• Tenneill Murray, MPH · New York State Psychiatric Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

23 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-05-28

Primary Completion

2028-06-30

Completion

2029-01-31

Countries

• United States
• Brazil

Study Locations