Providing Cash Incentives to New Mothers Enhances Breastfeeding Rates, Study Shows
Unconditional cash transfers to new mothers in the U.S. significantly increase breastfeeding rates without affecting postpartum mood, offering promising avenues for improving maternal health outcomes.
Recent research highlights the positive impact of unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) on postpartum health outcomes in the United States. The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, reveals that direct financial support to new mothers can significantly increase breastfeeding rates and does not appear to influence postpartum mood adversely. This groundbreaking review is believed to be the first to comprehensively analyze how different UCT programs affect maternal health after childbirth.
The investigation was driven by the ongoing maternal health crisis in the U.S., where maternal mortality rates are higher than in other high-income countries. Social and economic factors, particularly income disparities, play a critical role in maternal well-being, with over half of pregnancy-related deaths occurring within the first year postpartum.
The researchers analyzed 11 reports from six studies, including social programs like tax credits, disability benefits, and direct cash transfers provided to low-income postpartum women. The findings consistently showed that these financial interventions led to higher breastfeeding initiation and duration across diverse groups and settings. Since breastfeeding is linked to numerous health benefits for mothers—reducing risks of hypertension, diabetes, breast, and ovarian cancers—these results are highly significant.
Interestingly, the review found that UCTs had little to no effect on postpartum depression or mood symptoms. This could be due to the modest size or short duration of some transfers, indicating a need for further research to determine optimal intervention characteristics.
The authors emphasize that collecting comprehensive postpartum health data in future UCT programs is vital, especially regarding delivery complications, mental health, and heart disease. They also advocate for closer collaboration between social scientists and healthcare providers to design effective policies that improve maternal health outcomes. Ultimately, providing financial support to new mothers not only enhances individual well-being but also helps reduce healthcare costs and fosters healthier communities.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-cash-payments-mothers-boost-breastfeeding.html
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