Showing papers by "Deon Filmer published in 2016"
TL;DR: To the authors' knowledge, Pantawid is one of few CCT programs worldwide that significantly reduced severe stunting in children aged 6-36 mo; changes in key parenting practices, including children's intake of protein-rich foods and care-seeking behavior, were concurrent.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Pantawid, a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the Philippines, provided grants conditioned on health-related behaviors for children aged 0-5 y and schooling for those aged 10-14 y. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether Pantawid improved anthropometric measurements in children aged 6-36 mo. METHODS We estimated cross-sectional intention-to-treat effects using a 2011 cluster-randomized trial across 130 villages-65 treated and 65 control-with data collected after 31 mo of implementation. Anthropometry characteristics were measured for 241 children in treated areas and 244 children in control areas. Health service use for children aged 6-36 mo and dietary intake for those aged 6-60 mo also were measured. Outcome variables were height-for-age z scores (HAZs) and weight-for-age z scores (WAZs), stunting, severe stunting, underweight, and severely underweight. Impact also was assessed on perinatal care, institutional delivery, presence of skilled birth attendant, breastfeeding practices, immunization, growth monitoring and deworming, care-seeking, and children's intake of protein-rich foods. RESULTS Pantawid was associated with a significant reduction in severe stunting [<-3 SD from WHO standards for healthy children; β = -10.2 percentage points (95% CI -18.8, -1.6 percentage points); P = 0.020] as well as a marginally significant increase in HAZs [β = 0.284 SDs (95% CI -0.033, 0.602 SDs); P = 0.08]. WAZs, stunting, underweight, and severely underweight status did not change. Concomitantly, several measures of health-seeking behavior increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, Pantawid is one of few CCT programs worldwide that significantly reduced severe stunting in children aged 6-36 mo; changes in key parenting practices, including children's intake of protein-rich foods and care-seeking behavior, were concurrent.
38 citations
TL;DR: This paper evaluated a primary school scholarship program in Cambodia with two different targeting mechanisms, one based on poverty level and the other based on baseline test scores (merit) and found that only the merit-based targeting induced positive effects on test scores.
Abstract: We evaluate a primary school scholarship program in Cambodia with two different targeting mechanisms, one based on poverty level and the other on baseline test scores (“merit”). Both approaches increased enrollment and attendance. Only the merit-based targeting induced positive effects on test scores. This asymmetry is unlikely to have been driven by differences in recipients’ characteristics. We marshal evidence suggesting that the framing of the scholarships might have led to different impacts. In order to balance equity and efficiency, a two-step targeting approach might be preferable: first, identify low-income individuals, and then, among them, target based on merit.
36 citations
30 Oct 2016
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine how Cambodian youth's test score performance during lower secondary relates to their success several years later as they transition from schooling to work, and explore the association between cognitive skills measured using math and vocabulary test scores during 8 grade and several measures of "success" including test scores and socio-emotional well-being three years later.
Abstract: In this note, we examine how Cambodian youth’s test score performance during lower secondary relates to their success several years later as they transition from schooling to work. Specifically, we explore the association between cognitive skills measured using math and vocabulary test scores during 8 grade and several measures of “success” including test scores and socio-emotional well-being three years later. We explore the following questions:
1 citations