Cash transfers targeting adolescent wellbeing

A scoping review of the literature in low- and middle-income countries

Bibliographic Data

ID21766328
AuthorsSimone H Crouch (0000-0003-1911-5134, University of the Witwatersrand, corresponding author), Andrea Kolkenbeck‐Ruh (0000-0002-0014-8254, University of the Witwatersrand), Kathleen Kahn (0000-0003-3339-3931, University of the Witwatersrand), Lisa K Micklesfield (0000-0002-4994-0779, University of the Witwatersrand), Shane A Norri (0000-0001-7124-3788, University of the Witwatersrand)
Year2026
Volume19
Issue1
Pages2691385-2691385
Publication date2026-12-31
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Health Action (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1654-9716 • E-ISSN: 1654-9880
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/16549716.2026.2691385
PMID42339848
OpenAlexW7165739758
LanguageEN
References cited54

Creating healthy food environments is central to improving adolescent nutrition; a life-stage characterised by rapid growth, body composition changes and heightened nutrient requirements. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), cash transfer (CT) programmes are increasingly implemented as poverty-alleviation strategies to influence diet quality and related health behaviours by relaxing household budget constraints. While evidence demonstrates CT effects on nutrition and health in infancy and early childhood, few studies have evaluated their impact in adolescents in LMICs. We conducted a scoping review of randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies (2012-2025) evaluating CT interventions reporting adolescent (10-19 years) outcomes in LMICs. Comprehensive searches of PubMed and Google Scholar yielded 164 publications, of which 19 were included. Studies were eligible regardless of whether the CT programme targeted adolescents, provided adolescent-related outcomes were reported. Outcomes were categorised by: mental health; school attendance/enrolment; HIV prevalence; sexual activity/behaviour; partner violence; economic and food security; tuberculosis treatment; nutritional status; and healthcare utilisation. Almost all trials were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), eight studies examined the effect of conditional cash transfer (CCT), five studies unconditional cash transfers (UCT), five studies both CCT and UCT, while one study reported 'cash transfers' with no further information on the type of CT. Most studies reported beneficial effects in domains closely linked to the social determinants of adolescent health (schooling, economic security, sexual and reproductive health, and psychosocial wellbeing). In conclusion, CTs can contribute to improved adolescent wellbeing in LMICs, however direct evidence on adolescent nutrition outcomes is sparse

Cash transfers · Conditional cash transfer · Developing country · Global health · Mental health · Psychological intervention · Psychosocial · Public health · Reproductive health · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

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