Could cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi

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dc.contributor.authorSherr, Lorraine
dc.contributor.authorMacedo, Ana
dc.contributor.authorTomlinson, Mark
dc.contributor.authorSkeen, Sarah
dc.contributor.authorCluver, Lucie Dale
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T06:54:45Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T06:54:45Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Social protection interventions, including cash grants and care provision have been shown to effectively reduce some negative impacts of the HIV epidemic on adolescents and families. Less is known about the role of social protection on younger HIV affected populations. This study explored the impact of cash grants on children's cognitive development. Additionally, we examined whether combined cash and care (operationalised as good parenting) was associated with improved cognitive outcomes. METHODS: The sample included 854 children, aged 5 - 15, participating in community-based organisation (CBO) programmes for children affected by HIV in South Africa and Malawi. Data on child cognitive functioning were gathered by a combination of caregiver report and observer administered tests. Primary caregivers also reported on the economic situation of the family, cash receipt into the home, child and household HIV status. Parenting was measured on a 10 item scale with good parenting defined as a score of 8 or above. RESULTS: About half of families received cash (55%, n = 473), only 6% (n = 51) reported good parenting above the cut-off point but no cash, 18% (n = 151) received combined cash support and reported good parenting, and 21% (n = 179) had neither. Findings show that cash receipt was associated with enhanced child cognitive outcomes in a number of domains including verbal working memory, general cognitive functioning, and learning. Furthermore, cash plus good parenting provided an additive effect. Child HIV status had a moderating effect on the association between cash or/plus good parenting and cognitive outcomes. The association between cash and good parenting and child cognitive outcomes remained significant among both HIV positive and negative children, but overall the HIV negative group benefited more. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the importance of cash transfers and good parenting on cognitive development of young children living in HIV affected environments. Our data clearly indicate that combined provision (cash plus good parenting) have added value.
dc.identifier.apacitationSherr, L., Macedo, A., Tomlinson, M., Skeen, S., & Cluver, L. D. (2017). Could cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi. <i>BMC Pediatrics</i>, 17(1), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34329en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationSherr, Lorraine, Ana Macedo, Mark Tomlinson, Sarah Skeen, and Lucie Dale Cluver "Could cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi." <i>BMC Pediatrics</i> 17, 1. (2017): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34329en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationSherr, L., Macedo, A., Tomlinson, M., Skeen, S. & Cluver, L.D. 2017. Could cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi. <i>BMC Pediatrics.</i> 17(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34329en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1471-2431
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Sherr, Lorraine AU - Macedo, Ana AU - Tomlinson, Mark AU - Skeen, Sarah AU - Cluver, Lucie Dale AB - BACKGROUND: Social protection interventions, including cash grants and care provision have been shown to effectively reduce some negative impacts of the HIV epidemic on adolescents and families. Less is known about the role of social protection on younger HIV affected populations. This study explored the impact of cash grants on children's cognitive development. Additionally, we examined whether combined cash and care (operationalised as good parenting) was associated with improved cognitive outcomes. METHODS: The sample included 854 children, aged 5 - 15, participating in community-based organisation (CBO) programmes for children affected by HIV in South Africa and Malawi. Data on child cognitive functioning were gathered by a combination of caregiver report and observer administered tests. Primary caregivers also reported on the economic situation of the family, cash receipt into the home, child and household HIV status. Parenting was measured on a 10 item scale with good parenting defined as a score of 8 or above. RESULTS: About half of families received cash (55%, n = 473), only 6% (n = 51) reported good parenting above the cut-off point but no cash, 18% (n = 151) received combined cash support and reported good parenting, and 21% (n = 179) had neither. Findings show that cash receipt was associated with enhanced child cognitive outcomes in a number of domains including verbal working memory, general cognitive functioning, and learning. Furthermore, cash plus good parenting provided an additive effect. Child HIV status had a moderating effect on the association between cash or/plus good parenting and cognitive outcomes. The association between cash and good parenting and child cognitive outcomes remained significant among both HIV positive and negative children, but overall the HIV negative group benefited more. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the importance of cash transfers and good parenting on cognitive development of young children living in HIV affected environments. Our data clearly indicate that combined provision (cash plus good parenting) have added value. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 1 J1 - BMC Pediatrics LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2017 SM - 1471-2431 T1 - Could cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi TI - Could cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34329 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34329
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationSherr L, Macedo A, Tomlinson M, Skeen S, Cluver LD. Could cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi. BMC Pediatrics. 2017;17(1):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34329.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychiatry and Mental Health
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.sourceBMC Pediatrics
dc.source.journalissue1
dc.source.journalvolume17
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12887-017-0883-z
dc.subject.otherCash Grant
dc.subject.otherChild development
dc.subject.otherHIV/AIDS
dc.subject.otherMalawi
dc.subject.otherParenting
dc.subject.otherSouth Africa
dc.subject.otherAdolescent
dc.subject.otherChild
dc.subject.otherChild Development
dc.subject.otherChild, Preschool
dc.subject.otherCognition
dc.subject.otherCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.otherFemale
dc.subject.otherFinancing, Organized
dc.subject.otherHIV Infections
dc.subject.otherHumans
dc.subject.otherIncome
dc.subject.otherLinear Models
dc.subject.otherMalawi
dc.subject.otherMale
dc.subject.otherMultivariate Analysis
dc.subject.otherParenting
dc.subject.otherSouth Africa
dc.titleCould cash and good parenting affect child cognitive development? A cross-sectional study in South Africa and Malawi
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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