9. Unconditional cash transfers – results of included trials.
|
Study ID (risk of bias) |
Study design (n) | Unconditional cash transfers | No intervention | Effect measure (time point) | Effect directiona | Meta‐analysis (yes/no) | ||||
| Results at baseline | Results at follow‐up | n | Results at baseline | Results at follow‐up | n | |||||
| Outcome 1.2: proportion of HH expenditure on food | ||||||||||
| 1.2.1 Outcome measure: proportion of total HH expenditure on food (weekly/monthly) | ||||||||||
| Brugh 2018 (+) | cRCT (3290 HHs) | 0.77 (0.11) | 0.70 (0.11) | 1561 | 0.77 (0.11) | 0.72 (0.11) | 1729 | pp –2 (SE 1) 95% CI –3.96 to –0.4; P < 0.1 (1 year) | ▲ | Yes (excluding Merttens, Asfaw which are missing variance estimate) |
| Miller 2011 (?) | cRCT (HHs) | 56% | 68% | 366 HHs | 52% | 48% | 386 HHs | pp 12, P < 0.0001 (1 year), 95% CI 5.924 to 18.076, SE 3.1 | ▼ | |
| Hjelm 2017 (?) | cRCT (3010 HHs) | 74 (16) | — | — | 77 (15) | — | — | pp 3.2, robust t‐statistic 1.815, 95% CI –0.328 to 6.728, SE 1.8 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| cRCT (2969 HHs) | 74 (16) | 74.5 | 1490 HHs | 77 (15) | 72.7 | 1479 HHs | pp 4.2 robust, SE 1.8, 95% CI 0.672 to 7.728, P < 0.05 (3 years) | ▼ | ||
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (2436 HHs) | 76.5% | 77.3% | 1224 HHs | 79.8% | 81% | 1212 HHs | pp –0.4, P > 0.1 (1 year) | △ | |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT (1824 HHs) | 63% | 69.6% | 1286 HHs | 61% | 68.6% | 538 HHs | pp –0.95, P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | |
| Outcome 1.3: proportion of HHs who were food secure | ||||||||||
| 1.3.1 Food security | ||||||||||
| 1.3.1.1 Outcome measure: proportion consuming > 1 meal/day | ||||||||||
| Brugh 2018 (+) | cRCT (3290 HHs) | 0.79 (0.40) | 0.94 (0.24) | 1561 | 0.82 (0.39) | 0.88 (0.34) | 1729 | DD 0.11, SE 0.03, pp 11, 95% CI 0.0512 to 0.1688, P < 0.001 (1 year) | ▲ | Yes |
| Miller 2011b (?) | cRCT (752 HHs) | About 45% | About 85% | 366 HHs | About 45% | About 45% | 386 HHs | pp 42, P < 0.0001 (1 year), SE 10.7 95% CI 21.028 to 62.972 |
▲ | |
| 1.3.1.2 Outcome measure: mean food security scores (HFIASc/FSId) (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
|
Daidone 2014 (+) HFIAS/Food Security Scale |
cRCT (2299 HHs) | — | 9.63 | 1158 HHs | — | 12.36 | 1141 HHs | MD 2.498, SE 0.59, 95% CI 1.3416 to 3.6544, P < 0.05, SE 1.3 (2 years) | ▲ | Yes |
|
Haushofer 2013 (?) (FSI) |
RCT (940 HHs) | — | — | 471 HHs | — | Mean –0.00 (SE 1.00) | 469 HHs | MD 0.25, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.37, P < 0.01 (2 years), SE 0.1 | ▲ | |
|
Hjelm 2017 (?) (HFIAS/food security scale) |
cRCT (3010 HHs) | 14.78 (5.49) | — | — | 14.68 (5.71) | — | — | MD 1.78, robust t‐statistic 3.76, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.76 P < 0.05 (2 years), SE 0.5 | ▲ | |
| cRCT (2970 HHs) | 14.78 (5.49) | 9.83 | 1490 HHs | 14.68 (5.71) | 12.47 | 1480 HHs | MD 2.69, robust t‐statistic 4.94, 95% CI 1.71 to 3.67, P < 0.05 (3 years), SE 0.5 | ▲ | ||
| 1.3.1.3 Outcome measure: severe food deprivation (FSI > 2) | ||||||||||
| Pellerano 2014 (+) | cRCT (2220 children aged 0–5 years) | 67.1% | 53.4% | 747 HHs | 69.3% | 72.2% | 739 HHs | pp –16.63, P < 0.05 (2 years), SE 8.5 | ▲ | N/A. Outcomes from same study. |
| Pellerano 2014 (+) | cRCT (5384 children aged 6–17 years) | 67.8% | 58.6% | 747 HHs | 73.9% | 70.7% | 739 HHs | pp –6.103, P < 0.1 (2 years), SE 3.7 | ▲ | |
| 1.3.2 Dietary diversity | ||||||||||
| 1.3.2.1 Outcome measure: dietary diversity scores, including composite FCS (weighted) (mean, SD) (scores refer to number food groups consumed; reference periods and scales vary) | ||||||||||
|
Daidone 2014 (+) HDDS 0–12 |
cRCT (2298 HHs) | — | 6.73 | 1158 | — | 5.30 | 1141 | MD 1.43 (2 years) | △ | Yes (except for Daidone, Merttens, pellerano – missing variance estimate) |
|
Pellerano 2014 (+) FCS 0–112 |
cRCT (1486 HHs) | 28.7 | 31.2 | 747 HHs | 28.9 | 30.4 | 739 HHs | MD 0.946, P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | |
|
Brugh 2018 (+) HDDS 0–12 |
cRCT (3290 HHs) | 5.63 (1.78) | 5.85 (1.54) | 1561 | 5.64 (1.87) | 5.34 (1.44) | 1729 | MD 0.23 (SE 0.32), 95% CI –0.3972 to 0.8572, P > 0.05 (1 year) | △ | |
|
Miller 2011 (?) FDCS 1–8 |
cRCT (752 HHs) | 5 | 7 | 366 HHs | 5 | 4 | 386 HHs | MD 2.4, P < 0.0001 (1 year), SE 0.6. 95% CI 1.224 to 3.576 | ▲ | |
|
Ahmed 2019a (?) FCS 0–112 |
cRCT (HHs NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD 6.84 points, SE 1.12, P < 0.01, 95% CI 4.6448 to 9.0352 (2 years) | ▲ | |
|
Ahmed 2019b (?) FCS 0–112 |
cRCT (HHs NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD 2.62 points, SE 1.04, P < 0.05, 95% CI 0.5816 to 4.6584 (2 years) | ▲ | |
|
Merttens 2013 (‐) DDS 0–12 |
cRCT (2436 HHs) | 6.7 | 7.2 | 1224 HHs | 6.1 | 6.2 | 1212 HHs | MD 0.3, P > 0.1 (1 year) | △ | |
|
Asfaw 2014 (‐) DDS (0–8) |
cRCT (2369 HHs) | 5.225 | 6.177 | 1289 HHs | 5.697 | 5.843 | 540 HHs | MD 0.821, SE 0.3, P < 0.01 (2 years) | ▲ | |
| 1.3.2.2. Outcome measure: proportion with MDD (≥ 3–4 food groups)/acceptable food consumption (FCS > 35) | ||||||||||
| Tonguet Papucci 2015 (+) | cRCT (322 children aged 14–27 months) | — | 65.6% | 160 | — | 39.5% | 162 | OR 2.95, 95% CI 1.86 to 4.68, P < 0.001 (2 years) SMD 0.6, SE 0.1 |
▲ | Yes |
| Skoufias 2013 (‐) | cRCT (568 children) | 69.6% | 66. 7% | 279 | 72.7% | 59.9% | 289 | pp 10.6, 95% CI –6.65 to 27.85, P > 0.05 (2 years), SE 8.8 SMD 0.1, SE 0.1 |
△ | |
| 1.4 Change in adequacy of dietary intake | ||||||||||
| 1.4.1 Food poverty (per capita daily caloric intake < 2122 calories; proportion) | ||||||||||
| Ahmed 2019a (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD –0.05, SE 0.03, 95% CI –0.1088 to 0.0088, P > 0.05 (2 years) | — | Yes |
| Ahmed 2019b (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD –0.04, SE 0.04, P > 0.05, 95% CI –0.1184 to 0.0384 (2 years) | — | |
| 1.4.2 Proportion food energy deficient (total HH caloric availability < total HH caloric requirements) | ||||||||||
| Brugh 2018 (+) | cRCT (3290 HHs) | — | — | 1561 | — | — | 1729 | DD –0.1, SE 0.04, 95% CI –0.1784 to –0.0216; P < 0.05 (1 year) | ▲ | |
| 1.5Change in anthropometric indicators | ||||||||||
| 1.5.1Stunting(chronic undernutrition) | ||||||||||
| 1.5.1.1 Outcome measure: proportion stunted (HAZ < –2SD) | ||||||||||
| Tonguet Papucci 2015 (+) | cRCT | 27.7% | — | 630 children aged 0–15 months | 27.2% | — | 620 children aged 0–15 months | OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14, P 0.17 (2 years) | △ | Yes (except Asfaw, Merttens – no measure of variance) |
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | n (%): 457 (50.9) | NR | 874 children | n (%): 437 (51.7) | NR | 809 children | OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.59, P < 0.001 (6 months) | ▲ | |
| cRCT (1664 children) | n (%): 457 (50.9) | NR | 849 children | n (%): 437 (51.7) | NR | 815 children | OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.81, P = 0.003 (12 months) | ▲ | ||
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (1062 HHs) | 26.7% | 29.6% | — | 35.6% | 31.5% | — | pp 7.0, P > 0.1 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT | 41.5% | 35.7% | 442 children aged 0–59 months | 44% | 37% | 295 children aged 0–59 months | pp –4.63, P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | |
| 1.5.1.2 Outcome measure: proportion with severe stunting (HAZ < –3SD) | ||||||||||
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | NR | NR | 874 children | NR | NR | 809 children | OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.77, P = 0.003 (6 months) | ▲ | No. SE not available for all studies. |
| cRCT (1664 children) | NR | NR | 849 children | NR | NR | 815 children | OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.92, P = 0.02 (12 months) | ▲ | ||
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (n = 1062) | 11.6% | 13.4% | — | 15.2% | 15.1% | — | pp 1.9, P > 0.1 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| 1.5.1.3 Outcome measure: HAZ (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Daidone 2014 (+) | cRCT (2299 children aged 0–60 months) | — | –1.445 | 1158 | — | –1.491 | 1141 | MD 0.066, 95% CI –0.116 to 0.248, P > 0.05 (2 years) | △ | Yes |
| Tonguet Papucci 2015 (+) | cRCT (1250 children aged 0–15 months | –1.18 (1.44) | –1.96 (1.03) | 630 | –1.33 (1.24) | –1.99, SD 1.04) |
620 | MD –0.0005, 95% CI –0.004 to 0.003 z‐score/month, P = 0.78 | ▽ | |
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | –1.98 (1.65) | NR | 874 children | –1.97 (1.75) | NR | 809 children | MD 0.24, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.32, P < 0.001 (6 months) | ▲ | |
| cRCT (1664 children) | –1.98 (1.65) | NR | 849 children | –1.97 (1.75) | NR | 815 children | MD 0.21, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.31, P < 0.001 (12 months) | ▲ | ||
| Fernald 2011 (?) | cRCT (1196 children) | –0.5 (2.1) | –1.7 (1.2) | 797 | –0.7 (2.0) | –1.7 (1.2) | 399 | MD 0.01, 95% CI –0.18 to 0.19 (2 years) | △ | |
| Ahmed 2019a (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD 0.132, SE 0.08, 95% CI –0.0248 to 0.2888, P > 0.05 (2 years) | △ | |
| Ahmed 2019b (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD –0.097, SE 0.08, 95% CI –0.0598 to 0.2538, P > 0.05 (2 years) | △ | |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT (737 children aged 0–59 months) | –1.466 | –1.279 | 442 | –1.462 | –1.248 | 295 | MD –0.0272, 95% CI –0.503 to 0.449, P > 0.1 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| 1.5.2Wasting (acute undernutrition) | ||||||||||
| 1.5.2.1 Outcome measure: proportion wasted (WHZ < –2SD) (proportion) | ||||||||||
| Tonguet Papucci 2015 (+) | cRCT (1250 children aged 0–15 months | 26% | — | 630 | 192% | — | 620 | IRR 0.92, 95% CI 0,64 to 1.32; P = 0.66 (2 years) | △ | No. SE not available for all studies and different effect size for 1 study. |
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | n (%): 196 (22.0) | NR | 874 children | n (%): 184 (21.9) | NR | 874 children | OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.87, P = 0.75 (6 months) | ▽ | |
| cRCT (1664 children) | n (%): 196 (22.0) | NR | 849 children | n (%): 184 (21.9) | NR | 849 children | OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.71, P = 0.66 (12 months) | ▽ | ||
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (1062 children) | 25.3% | 23.1% | — | 24.2% | 17.3% | — | pp 4.7, P > 0.1 | ▽ | |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT (737 children aged 0–59 months) | 6% | 9% | 648 | 9.4% | 6.9% | 341 | pp 5.95, P > 0.1 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| 1.5.2.2 Outcome measure: severe wasting (WHZ < –3SD) (proportion) | ||||||||||
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | 69 (7.7) | — | 874 children | 62 (7.4) | — | 874 children | OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.38 to 2.54, P = 0.97 (6 months) | △ | No. Variance only available for 1 of the 2 studies. |
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (1062 children) | 6.8 | 6.2 | — | 8.0 | 3.5 | — | pp 3.9, P > 0.1 | ▽ | |
| 1.5.2.3 Outcome measure: WHZ (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Daidone 2014 (+) | cRCT (2299 children aged 0–69 months) | — | –0.0961 | 1158 | — | –0.154 | 1141 | MD 0.118, 95% CI –0.015 to 0.251 (2 years) | △ | Yes |
| Tonguet Papucci 2015 (+) | cRCT (1250 children aged 0–15 months) | –1.24 (1.23) |
–0.56 (0.95) | 630 | –1.07 (1.12) | –0.61 (0.93) | 620 | MD –0.003 z‐score/month, 95% CI –0.008 to 0.0003, P = 0.07 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | –1.11 (1.34) | NR | 874 children | –1.15 (1.30) | NR | 874 children | MD 0.04, 95% CI –0.07 to 0.14, P = 0.5 (6 months) | △ | |
| cRCT (1664 children) | –1.11 (1.34) | NR | 849 children | –1.15 (1.30) | NR | 849 children | MD –0.08, 95% CI –0.19 to 0.04, P = 0.21 (12 months) | ▽ | ||
| Ahmed 2019a (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Coefficient –0.013, SE 0.07, 95% CI –0.1502 to 0.1242, P > 0.05 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| Ahmed 2019b (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Coefficient –0.088, SE 0.08, P > 0.05, 95% CI –0.2448 to 0.0688 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT (737 children aged 0–59 months) | –0.017 | –0.332 | 442 | 0.065 | –0.166 | 295 | MD –0.0838, 95% CI –0.339 to 0.171, P > 0.1 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| 1.5.3 Underweight | ||||||||||
| 1.5.3.1 Weight for age z‐score | ||||||||||
| 1.5.3.1.1 Outcome measure: proportion underweight (WAZ < –2SD) | ||||||||||
| Pellerano 2014 (+) | cRCT (total n: 6 month old 474; 12 month old 293) | 6 month old: 29.2; 12 month old: 36.6 | 6 month old: 10.6; 12 month old: 16.4 |
— | 6 month old: 11.0; 12 month old: 39.7 | 6 month old: 8.4 12 month old: 23.3 |
— | 6 month old: pp –15.60, P < 0.05 12 month old: pp –3.637, P > 0.05 (2 years) |
6 month old: ▲ 12 month old: △ |
No. Variance not available for all studies. |
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (1062) | 30.7 | 24.9 | — | 33.7 | 24 | — | pp 3.9, P > 0.1 | ▽ | |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT (1435) | 20.6 | 21 | — | 19.6 | 19.1 | — | pp –0.62, P = 0.901 (2 years) | △ | |
| 1.5.3.1.2 Outcome measure: proportion severely underweight (WAZ < –3SD) | ||||||||||
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (1062) | 9.8 | 8.9 | — | 10.9 | 6.9 | — | pp 3.2, P > 0.1 | ▽ | N/A |
| 1.5.3.1.3 Outcome measure: mean WAZ | ||||||||||
| Daidone 2014 (+) | cRCT (6825 children) | — | –0.900 | — | — | –0.963 | — | MD 0.128, 95% CI –0.05 to 0.261, P > 0.05 (2 years) | △ | Yes |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT 752 children aged 0–59 months) | –0.879 | –1.034 | 456 | –0.923 | –0.804 | 296 | MD –0.274, 95% CI –0.633 to 0.085, P > 0.1 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| 1.5.3.2 BMI (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT 1208 HHs/mothers (flow diagram) | Median (IQR) 20.4 (18.3 to 23.5) | NR | 607 | median (IQR) 20.0 (18.1 to 22.7) | NR | 601 | Beta‐coefficient –0.10, 95% CI –0.36 to 0.16, P = 0.45 (6 months) | ▽ | |
| 1.5.5 Mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1208 HHs/mothers) | 24.4 (3.4) | NR | 607 | 24.3 (3.2) | NR | 601 | Beta‐coefficient 0.09, 95% CI –0.13 to 0.30, P = 0.41 (6 months) | △ | |
| cRCT (1683 children) | 13.5 (1.3) | NR | 874 | 13.5 (1.2) | NR | 809 | beta‐coefficient 0.06, 95% CI –0.02 to 0.15, P = 0.15 (6 months) | △ | ||
| 1.6Change in biochemical indicators | ||||||||||
| 1.6.1 Outcome measure: haemoglobin concentration (g/dL) (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1208 HHs/mothers) | mean 103 (SD 18) | NR | 607 mothers | mean 100 (SD 19) | NR | 601 mothers | MD –0.42, 95% CI –0.63 to –0.20, P < 0.001 (6 months) | ▼ | |
| cRCT (1683 children) | mean 89 (17) | NR | 874 children | mean 88 (16) | NR | 809 children | MD –0.12, 95% CI –0.31 to 0.08, P = 0.24 (6 months) | ▽ | Yes | |
| Fernald 2011 (?) | cRCT (922 children) | 9.7 (1.3) | 10.4 (1.5) | — | 9.5 (1.3) | 10.3 (1.3) | — | MD 0.04, 95% CI –0.21 to 0.29, P > 0.1 | △ | |
| 1.7 Cognitive function and development | ||||||||||
| 1.7.1 Outcome measure: cognitive and development scales/indices (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Baird 2013 (+) | cRCT (RCPM; 2057 adolescents) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD 0.136, SE 0.119, 95% CI –0.097 to 0.369, P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | No (no n to calculate SMD) |
| Daidone 2014 (+) | cRCT (ECD Index; 5670 children) | — | 5.174 | — | — | 4.926 | — | MD 0.311, 95% CI –0.065 to 0.687, P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | |
| 1.7.2 Outcome measure: Individual cognitive function measures scores (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Fernald 2011 (?) | cRCT (Language: TVIP; 1894 children 36 months and older) | — | — | — | — | — | — | MD 0.013, 95% CI –0.076 to 0.102, P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | N/A |
| Language: IDHC‐B 1192 children aged 12–35 months) | — | 45.0 (35.1) | — | — | 42.3 (32.2) | — | MD 2.43, 95% CI –1.01 to 5.86, P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | ||
| 1.8 Change in proportion of anxiety and depression | ||||||||||
| 1.8.1 Outcome measure: depression score (CES‐D scale) (mean change in score, SD) | ||||||||||
| Fernald 2011 (?) | cRCT (1430 mothers) | — | 19.6 (11.1) | — | — | 18.9 (10.6) | — | MD 0.71, 95% CI –0.84 to 2.25, P > 0.1 (2 years) | ▽ | Yes |
| Haushofer 2013 (?) | RCT (2140 adults) | — | — | 471 HHs | — | 26.48 (9.31) | 469 HHs | MD –0.99, 95% CI –1.54 to –0.44, P < 0.1 (3 years) | ▲ | |
| Hjelm 2017 (?) | cRCT (1765 HHs with adolescents) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Effect estimate 0.00, robust t‐statistic 0.00, P not significant (2 years) | — | |
| cRCT (2217 HHs with adolescents) | — | — | — | — | 19.24 | — | Effect estimate –0.54, 95% CI –1.80028 to 0.72028 (3 years) | △ | ||
| 1.8.2 Outcome measure: Perceived Stress Scale (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Fernald 2011 (?) | cRCT (n = 1430) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Top 3 income quartiles: MD 0.045, 95% CI –0.112 to 0.202, P > 0.1. Bottom income quartile: MD 0.177, 95% CI –0.017 to 0.371, P < 0.1 (2 years) |
▽ | Yes |
| Haushofer 2013 (?) | RCT (2140 adults) | — | — | — | — | 0.00 (1.00) | — | MD –0.14, 95% CI –0.258 to –0.022, P < 0.05 (3 years) | ▲ | |
| Hjelm 2017 (?) | cRCT (2490 HHs) | — | 9.58 (4.64) | — | — | 9.92 (4.73) | — | Effect estimate –0.42, 95% CI –1.12364 to 0.28364 (3 years) | △ | |
| 1.8.3 Outcome measure: proportion with psychological distress (psychological distress, anxiety and depression, social dysfunction, loss of confidence) | ||||||||||
| Baird 2013 (+) | cRCT (2089 adults) | — | — | — | — | 0.374 | — | pp –14.3, 95% CI –21.0 to –7.6, P < 0.001 (1 year) | ▲ | N/A |
| — | — | — | — | 0.308 | — | pp –3.8, 95% CI –13.14 to 5.8 P > 0.1 (2 years) | △ | |||
| 1.8.4 Outcome measure: Psychological Well‐being Score (mean, SD) | ||||||||||
| Haushofer 2013 (?) | RCT (2140 adults) | — | — | — | — | –0.00 (1.00) | — | Coefficient 0.20 SD, 95% CI 0.082 to 0.318, P < 0.1 (2 years) | ▲ | N/A |
| 1.9 Morbidity | ||||||||||
| 1.9.1 Outcome measure: incidence of respiratory infections (reference period: 1 and 2 weeks) | ||||||||||
| Daidone 2014 (+) | cRCT Proportion children aged 0–60 months with ARI in previous 2 weeks (n = 7232) |
— | 0.0511 | — | — | 0.0832 | — | pp –3.6, 95% CI –8.6 to 14.0, P > 0.05 (2 years) | △ | No. 2 different measures of effect that could not be compared (IRR vs OR/pp). |
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | n (%): 310 (34.3) | NR | 874 children | n (%): 273 (32.2) | NR | 809 children | OR, 0.73, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.03, P = 0.07 (6 months) | △ | |
| Tonguet Papucci 2015 (+) | cRCT Episodes/child‐month (1250 children aged 0–15 months) |
— | N 0.87, 95% CI 0.84 to 0.89 | — | — | N 0.95, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.97 | — | IRR 0.79, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.81, P < 0.001 (2 years) | ▲ | |
| Asfaw 2014 (‐) | cRCT 957 children aged 0–7 years) | — | — | 613 children | — | — | 344 children | IRR 0.556, t‐statistics –2.40, P < 0.05 (2 years) | — | |
| 1.9.2 Outcome measure: incidence diarrhoeal disease | ||||||||||
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | n (%): 228 (25.2) | NR | 874 children | n (%): 298 (35.0) | NR | 809 children | OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.63, P = 0.84 (6 months) | ▽ | No. Different measure of effect for one study (IRR vs OR/pp) |
| Daidone 2014 (+) | cRCT Proportion children aged 0–60 months with diarrhoea in previous 2 weeks (n = 7232) |
— | 0.0684 | — | — | 0.0925 | — | pp –4.9, 95% CI –8.9 to –0.9, P < 0.05 (2 years) | ▲ | |
| Tonguet Papucci 2015 (+) | cRCT Episodes/child/month (1250 children aged 0–15 months) |
— | n 0.85, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.88 | — | — | n 0.83, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.85 | — | IRR 1.00, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.03, P = 0.89 (2 years) | □ | |
| Ahmed 2019a (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Coefficient –0.003, pp –0.3, SE 0.02, 95% CI –0.0422 to 0.0362, P > 0.05 (2 years) | △ | |
| Ahmed 2019b (?) | cRCT (n NR) | — | — | — | — | — | — | Coefficient –0.009, pp –0.9, SE 0.02, 95% CI –0.0482 to 0.0302, P > 0.05 | △ | |
| 1.9.3 Outcome measure: proportion with any illness in previous reference period (1 month/3 months) | ||||||||||
| Pellerano 2014 (+) | cRCT (1996 children aged 0–5 years) | 38.9 | 31.4 | — | 36.7 | 45.3 | — | pp –15.38, P < 0.1 (2 years) | ▲ | No. Variance estimates not available for all studies. |
| Merttens 2013 (‐) | cRCT (n = 14,342) (includes injury) | 22.5 | 12.1 | — | 23.1 | 11.7 | — | pp 1.0, P > 0.05 (2 years) | ▽ | |
| 1.9.4 Proportion with anaemia (any) | ||||||||||
| Fenn 2015 (+) | cRCT (1683 children) | — | — | 874 children | — | — | 809 children | OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.86, P = 0.64 (6 months) | — | N/A |
| cRCT (1208 mothers) | — | — | 607 mothers | — | — | 601 mothers | OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.82 to 2.18, P = 0.24 (6 months) | — | ||
| 1.10 Adverse events: proportion who were overweight (according to International standards and Bukana Health Card) | ||||||||||
| Pellerano 2014 (+) | cRCT (total n: 6 months old: 474; 12 months old: 293) | 6 months old: 4.5; 12 months old: 6.0 | 6 months old: 2.2; 12 months old: 0.0 | — | 6 months old: 0.8; 12 months old: 0.0 | 6 months old: 2.0; 12 months old: 0.0 | — | 6 months old: pp –5.082, P > 0.05; 12 months old: pp –6.461, P > 0.05 (2 years) | △ | N/A |
aEach triangle represents one study; bValues are derived from graphs
▲ = Favours the intervention, 95% CI excludes 0; △ = Unclear effect potentially favouring the intervention, 95% CI includes zero; ▼ = Favours the control, 95% CI excludes 0; ▽ = Unclear effect potentially favouring the control, 95% CI includes 0; □: Effect measure is the null; (+): low overall risk of bias; (?): unclear overall risk of bias; (‐): high overall risk of bias. FDCS: Food diversity consumption score; FCS: Food consumption score.
ARI: acute respiratory infection; CES‐D: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; CI: confidence interval; cRCT: cluster randomised controlled trial; DD: Diet diversity; DDS: Dietary Diversity Score; ECD: Early Childhood Development; FCS: Food Consumption Score; FDCS: Food Diversity Composite Score; FSI: Food Security Index; HAZ: height‐for‐age z‐score; HDDS: Household Dietary Diversity Score; HFIAS: Household Food Insecurity Access Scale; HH: household; IDHC‐B: Inventario do Desenvolvemento de Habilidades Comunicativas‐B; IQR: interquartile range; IRR: incidence rate ratio; MD: mean difference; MDD: minimum dietary diversity; n: number; NR: not reported; OR: odds ratio; pp: percentage point; RCPM: Ravens Coloured Progressive Matrices ; RCT: randomised controlled trial; SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; SMD: standardised mean difference; TVIP: Test de Vocabulario en Imagenes Peabody; WHZ: weight‐for‐height z‐score.