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| Author(s): |
Ana Paula Bortoletto Martins
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Paulo. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP/CIR) |
| Defense date: | 2013-06-10 |
| Examining board members: |
Carlos Augusto Monteiro;
Aluísio Jardim Dornellas de Barros;
Maria Helena D\' Aquino Benicio;
Rosana Salles da Costa;
Lenise Mondini
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| Advisor: | Carlos Augusto Monteiro |
| Abstract | |
INTRODUCTION: Conditional cash transfer programs were implemented for the first time in Brazil in 1990. They were gradually expanded until 2003 and thereafter they were incorporated to the Bolsa Família Program. The assessment of the influence of conditional cash transfer programs on food consumption of Brazilian beneficiaries is scarce and the results of the studies are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of the Bolsa Família Program (hereafter identified as program) on household food availability in low-income families in Brazil. METHODS: The study analyzed data on a probabilistic sample of 55,970 households as part of the 2008-09 Household Budget Survey. The survey collected data on quantity and cost of all food and beverage purchased by the households during seven consecutive days. The per capita weekly expenditure and the daily energy of each food item were calculated. The assessment of the impact of the program was carried out for the group of low-income households (monthly per capita income up to R$ 210.00) and stratified for households with income above or below the median. Hereafter, these households are identified, respectively, as poor and extremely poor households. To assess the impact of the Program, food availability indicators were compared among of paired blocks of households, beneficiaries or non-beneficiaries of the program. These pairs were created based on the propensity score of each household to have beneficiary individuals. Using the propensity score matching method, pairs of blocks were created, which were homogeneous regarding many potential confounding variables for the association between the program and food acquisition. The per capita weekly expenditure and the daily energy consumption were compared considering all food items and three food groups based on the extent and the purpose of the industrial food processing applied to them: in natura or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients and ready-to-eat products (processed or ultra-processed products). The comparisons between the blocks of beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries households were carried out through paired \'t\' test. RESULTS: Compared to the non-beneficiaries, the beneficiaries households presented higher food expenditure (p=0.015), higher total energy availability (p=0.010) and higher availability of foods and culinary ingredients. There were no differences between groups regarding the expenditure and the availability of ready-to-eat products. Inside de group of foods, the expenditure and the availability of meat, tubers and vegetables were higher for the beneficiaries of the program. There were no differences regarding staple Brazilian foods like rice and beans. Similar results were observed for poor and extremely poor households, but the magnitude of the differences was lower for the households that were extremely poor. CONCLUSION: The impact of the Bolsa Família Program among low income families resulted in higher food expenditure, higher availability of foods and culinary ingredients and higher availability of foods that usually diversify and improve the diet quality. The effects of the Program seem to be lower for the extremely poor families (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/17080-9 - Impact of the Bolsa Familia program on food acquisition of low-income Brazilian families |
| Grantee: | Ana Paula Bortoletto Martins |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |