Fighting against hunger: A country-wide intervention and its impact on birth outcomes. (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Beltran-Silva, Francisco
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 165(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: I15 -- H51; Birthweight -- Food assistance -- Hunger -- Maternal and child health -- Nutrition; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: Provides a nationwide evaluation of the impact of Sin Hambre, a large-scale food assistance policy implemented in Mexico, on birthweight. Examines the policy's effect by applying a cutting-edge panel methodology to a food assistance program with non-random treatment assignment and staggered adoption. Suggest, at most, moderate impacts on birthweight across various specifications. Contributes to the literature of hunger reduction policies and their impacts on birthweight in developing countries. Abstract: In 2013 the Mexican government launched Sin Hambre (SH), a large-scale food assistance policy, with which to fight hunger, and which the government expressly intended to improve nutrition and access to food. This study applies a difference-in-differences approach using timing and regional variations in exposure to evaluate the impact of SH, particularly on average birthweight. Because municipalities were not selected randomly, the approach employs a method proposed by Imai et al. (2021) that improves the confidence to satisfy the parallel trend assumption under staggered adoption. Findings reveal that exposure to SH leads to, at most, moderate impacts on birthweight across various specifications.