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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03810300

Sustainability of Impacts of Cash Transfers, Food Transfers, and Behavior Change Communication in Bangladesh

This study assesses the sustainability of impacts, 4 years post-program, from a pilot safety net program that was implemented from May 2012-April 2014. The intervention, called the Transfer Modality Research Initiative (TMRI), was assigned following a cluster-randomized controlled trial design in two zones of Bangladesh (north and south). Intervention arms were assigned at the village level, where arms were as follows: (1) cash transfers [north and south]; (2) cash transfers + nutrition behavior communication change (BCC) [north only]; (3) food transfers [north and south]; (4) food transfers + nutrition BCC [south only]; (4) food-cash split [north and south]; and (5) control [north and south]. Within treatment villages, women living in very poor households were targeted to receive benefits for two years.

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Key information

Conditions

Food Security Behavior Child Development Child Nutrition Coitus Gender Dynamics Intimate Partner Violence Poverty Sexual Behavior

Age range

15 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

The objective of the study is to assess, 4 years after a pilot safety net intervention ended in April 2014, the sustainability of the intervention's impacts on households, children, and women. The intervention, called the Transfer Modality Research Initiative (TMRI), was assigned following a cluster-randomized controlled trial design in two zones of Bangladesh (north and south). WFP-Bangladesh implemented the intervention, and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) conducted the impact evaluation research. Intervention arms were assigned at the village level, where arms were as follows: (1) cash transfers [north and south]; (2) cash transfers + nutrition behavior communication change (BCC) [north only]; (3) food transfers [north and south]; (4) food transfers + nutrition BCC [south only]; (5) food-cash split [north and south]; and (5) control [north and south]. Within treatment villages, women living in very poor households were targeted to receive benefits for two years, from May 2012-April 2014. For the original impact evaluation, longitudinal data on 5000 households were collected from 2012-2015 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02237144).

For the sustainability study in 2018, given available funding, the sampling frame will include 4000 households. This will include all households that were originally in the following arms: (1) cash transfers [north and south]; (2) cash transfers + nutrition BCC [north only]; (3) food transfers [north and south]; (4) food transfers + nutrition BCC [south only]; (5) control [north and south].

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Former participant of Transfer Modality Research Initiative study (in cash, food, cash+BCC, food+BCC, or control arms)

Exclusion criteria

-

Treatment and study plan

Cash Transfer

Other

1500 taka ($18.75) per household distributed monthly

Food transfer

Other

30 kg rice, 2 kg lentils, and 2 kg micro-nutrient fortified cooking oil per household distributed monthly

Food and cash transfer

Other

15 kg of rice, 1 kg of lentils, and 1 kg of micronutrient-fortified cooking oil, and 750 taka cash per household, distributed monthly

Nutrition behavior Communication Change (BCC)

Behavioral

Weekly, group-based, one-hour meetings on maternal and child nutrition, sanitation and health knowledge, attitudes and practice; twice-a-month home visits; monthly community meetings

Control

Other

No transfer, no behavior change communication

Primary outcomes

  1. Food Consumption Score

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    The Food Consumption Score, as defined by the World Food Programme, is calculated as the number of food groups consumed by the household in the previous 7 days, weighted by each food group's nutritional value and frequency of consumption. Scale range is 0 to 112, with higher values reflecting higher food consumption.

  2. Child height-for-age z-score

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Calculated using the 2006 WHO growth reference. This is a continuous measure that represents the number of standard deviations from the mean among comparable children in the WHO growth reference.

  3. Prevalence of physical intimate partner violence

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Prevalence of any physical intimate partner violence in the past 12 months measured using the WHO Violence Against Women instrument

Secondary outcomes

  1. Household dietary diversity

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured by counting the number of food groups consumed by the household

  2. Value of total household consumption

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Aggregate value of household food and non-food consumption expenditures. This is a continuous measure calculated from household survey responses on consumption behavior, using the methodology and questionnaire modules described in Deaton and Zaidi (2002). Citation: A.Deaton,, and S. Zaidi. 2002. "Guidelines for Constructing Consumption Aggregates for Welfare Analysis." Washington, DC : World Bank.

  3. Value of household food consumption

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Value of household food consumption expenditures. This is a continuous measure calculated from household survey responses on consumption behavior, using the methodology and questionnaire modules described in Deaton and Zaidi (2002). Citation: A.Deaton,, and S. Zaidi. 2002. "Guidelines for Constructing Consumption Aggregates for Welfare Analysis." Washington, DC : World Bank.

  4. Value of household non-food consumption

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Value of household non-food consumption expenditures. This is a continuous measure calculated from household survey responses on consumption behavior, using the methodology and questionnaire modules described in Deaton and Zaidi (2002). Citation: A.Deaton,, and S. Zaidi. 2002. "Guidelines for Constructing Consumption Aggregates for Welfare Analysis." Washington, DC : World Bank.

  5. Household food insecurity

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Scale range is 0 to 27, with higher values reflecting higher food insecurity.

  6. Value of household labor income

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Value of annual labor income over all household members

  7. Value of household non-labor income

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Value of annual non-labor income over all household members

  8. Value of household asset ownership

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Total value of all assets owned

  9. Household land ownership

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Area of land owned

  10. Housing quality: interviews

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Quality of housing stock. This is measured using a module developed for the study context, and information is collected through household enumerator observation during interviews.

  11. Maternal nutrition knowledge score

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Number answered correctly on a test of maternal knowledge regarding infant and young child feeding practices developed for the survey, based on the curriculum of training sessions in the intervention.

  12. Maternal infant and young child feeding practices

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Maternal adherence to WHO-recommended infant and young child feeding practices

  13. Child score on Raven's Progressive Matrices

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using Raven's Progressive Matrices set A and set B. This is constructed following the test's protocol for scoring.

  14. Child score on Early Grade Reading Assessment

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using Early Grade Reading Assessment adapted to local context. This is constructed following the test's protocol for scoring.

  15. Child score on Early Grade Mathematics Assessment

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using Early Grade Mathematics Assessment adapted to local context. This is constructed following the test's protocol for scoring.

  16. Child score on Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, part of the Development and Well-Being Assessment family of mental heath measures. This is constructed following the test's protocol for scoring.

  17. Child weight-for-height z-score

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Calculated using the 2006 WHO growth reference. This is a continuous measure that represents the number of standard deviations from the mean among comparable children in the WHO growth reference.

  18. Prevalence of child stunting

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Calculated using the 2006 WHO growth reference

  19. Prevalence of child wasting

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Calculated using the 2006 WHO growth reference

  20. Child illness

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Mother's report of child illness in previous 2 weeks

  21. Parental interaction with child

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Time spent on child stimulation activities in previous 7 days, measured using modules developed for the survey

  22. Parental discipline of the child

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Disciplinary measures used in the past month, measured using modules developed for the survey

  23. Community norms on gender

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Community leaders' attitudes toward gender, measured using modules developed for the survey

  24. Prevalence of emotional violence

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Prevalence of any emotional intimate partner violence in the past 12 months measured using the WHO Violence Against Women instrument

  25. Prevalence of controlling behaviors

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Prevalence of any controlling behaviors in the past 12 months measured using the WHO Violence Against Women instrument

  26. Prevalence of individual acts of intimate partner violence

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Prevalence of individual acts of intimate partner violence in the past 12 months measured using the WHO Violence Against Women instrument

  27. Individual decisionmaking

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's decisionmaking modules adapted from pro-WEAI

  28. Individual asset ownership

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's asset ownership modules developed for the survey

  29. Individual mobility

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's mobility modules adapted from pro-WEAI

  30. Individual labor force participation

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's labor modules developed for the survey

  31. Individual attitudes toward gender and intimate partner violence

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's attitudes toward gender and intimate partner violence modules developed for the survey

  32. Individual social capital

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's social capital modules developed for the survey

  33. Individual stress

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's Perceived Stress Scale scores

  34. Individual depression

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Depression Test scores

  35. Individual aspirations

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's aspirations modules developed for the survey

  36. Spousal relationship

    Time frame: After 4 years post-intervention

    Measured using men's and women's relationship modules developed for the survey

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

International Food Policy Research Institute

Other

Collaborators

  • Cornell University
  • Data Analysis and Technical Assistance Ltd
  • World Food Programme, Bangladesh

Registry information

Official study title

Sustainability of Impacts of Cash Transfers, Food Transfers, and Behavior Change Communication in Bangladesh: Transfer Modality Research Initiative

Acronym: TMRI

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Jan 18, 2019
Registry last updated
Jan 18, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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