Impact of Bolsa Família Program on the nutritional status of children and adolescents from two Brazilian regions

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess and compare the impact of the Bolsa Família Program (Family Allowance) on the nutritional status of children and adolescents from the Brazilian Northeastern and Southeastern regions. Methods: The study used data from a database derived from a subsample of the Family Budget Survey conducted from 2008 to 2009. The ratios of underweight, stunted, and overweight children were calculated. Impact measurement analysis was preceded by propensity score matching, which matches beneficiary and non-beneficiary families in relation to a set of socioeconomic features. The nearest-neighbor matching algorithm estimated the program impact. Results: The ratio of underweight children and adolescents was, on average, 1.1% smaller in the beneficiary families than in the non-beneficiary families in the Northeastern region. As for the Southeastern region, the ratio of overweight children and adolescents was, on average, 4.2% smaller in the beneficiary families. The program did not affect stunting in either region. Conclusion: The results showed the positive impact and good focus of the program. Thus, once linked to structural actions, the program may help to improve the nutritional status and quality of life of its beneficiaries.

摘要 研究目的：评估并比较巴西家庭补助金计划（Bolsa Família Program）对巴西东北部与东南部地区儿童及青少年营养状况的影响。研究方法：本研究使用2008—2009年家庭预算调查子样本数据库的数据，计算了儿童体重不足、生长迟缓及超重的比例。在开展影响评估分析前，先通过倾向得分匹配（propensity score matching）法，基于一系列社会经济特征对受益家庭与非受益家庭进行匹配；随后采用最近邻匹配算法（nearest-neighbor matching algorithm）估算该计划的影响效果。研究结果：在东北部地区，受益家庭的儿童及青少年体重不足比例较非受益家庭平均低1.1%；在东南部地区，受益家庭的儿童及青少年超重比例较非受益家庭平均低4.2%。该计划对两个地区的儿童生长迟缓比例均未产生影响。研究结论：研究结果显示该计划具有积极影响与良好的靶向性。若将该计划与结构性举措相结合，或可助力改善受益群体的营养状况与生活质量。