NCT05477901 · New York State Psychiatric Institute
Impacts of Cash Transfers on Child Neurodevelopment (Auxilio Brasil)
What this study is about
This study examines the impact of Auxilio Brasil (AB), a cash transfer program to mothers of school-age children, on resource-deprived populations in Brazil and its protective effects on child neurodevelopment and mental health.
View original scientific description
This study examines the impact of Auxilio Brasil (AB), a cash transfer program to mothers of school-age children, on resource-deprived populations in Brazil and its protective effects on child neurodevelopment and mental health. The investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial (RCT) among those already receiving AB in which 300 families will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a high ($40/month) or low ($2/month) supplemental transfer for 2 years. Three hundred children (index child participants; 7-10 years old) will be enrolled across both study arms. Additionally, up to 150 siblings ("sibling participants;" 7-10 years old) will be enrolled. Eligible families who decide to participate will sign a study-specific informed consent (mother) and assent (child) form. The UNIFESP team will conduct the respective assessments at baseline, approximately 8- and 16- months, 24-months and approximately 6-months post-RCT. Aim 1: Determine the impact of high vs low cash transfers on children's exposure to adversities (ACEs) and neurodevelopment. Aim 2: Determine the impact of cash transfers on children's inflammatory markers and HPA activity/cortisol. Exploratory Aim: The investigators will explore (i) whether sex/gender of the children moderates the pathways in the above mediation model; and (ii) whether cash transfer-related effects persist 6 months post-RCT.
Interventions
OTHER
Supplemental cash transfer
Supplemental cash transfer ($40/month)
Primary outcome measures
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - FHE
Time frame: Baseline
Family History Epidemiologic screener is a 9-item (+subitems) checklist to asses child's ACEs, more checked items mean more ACEs.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - FHE
Time frame: 8 months
Family History Epidemiologic screener is a 9-item (+subitems) checklist to asses child's ACEs, more checked items mean more ACEs.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - FHE
Time frame: 16 months
Family History Epidemiologic screener is a 9-item (+subitems) checklist to asses child's ACEs, more checked items mean more ACEs.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - FHE
Time frame: 24 months
Family History Epidemiologic screener is a 9-item (+subitems) checklist to asses child's ACEs, more checked items mean more ACEs.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - FHE
Time frame: 6 months post-RCT
Family History Epidemiologic screener is a 9-item (+subitems) checklist to asses child's ACEs, more checked items mean more ACEs.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - CTC
Time frame: Baseline
Brazilian version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale: 22-item checklist with following subscales: non-violent discipline (NVD), psychological aggression (PSY), corporal punishment (CP), and physical maltreatment (PM). More checks in each subscales means behavior is performed more often.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - CTC
Time frame: 8 months
Brazilian version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale: 22-item checklist with following subscales: non-violent discipline (NVD), psychological aggression (PSY), corporal punishment (CP), and physical maltreatment (PM). More checks in each subscales means behavior is performed more often.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - CTC
Time frame: 16 months
Brazilian version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale: 22-item checklist with following subscales: non-violent discipline (NVD), psychological aggression (PSY), corporal punishment (CP), and physical maltreatment (PM). More checks in each subscales means behavior is performed more often.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - CTC
Time frame: 24 months
Brazilian version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale: 22-item checklist with following subscales: non-violent discipline (NVD), psychological aggression (PSY), corporal punishment (CP), and physical maltreatment (PM). More checks in each subscales means behavior is performed more often.
Changes in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - CTC
Time frame: 6 months-post RCT
Brazilian version of the Parent-Child Conflict Tactics Scale: 22-item checklist with following subscales: non-violent discipline (NVD), psychological aggression (PSY), corporal punishment (CP), and physical maltreatment (PM). More checks in each subscales means behavior is performed more often.
Child internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Time frame: Baseline
Maternal report of The Child Behavior Checklist, internalizing (score ranges from 0 to 33) and externalizing (score ranges from 0 to 35) scales. More checks in each scale means more internalizing or externalizing symptoms.
Changes in Child internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Time frame: 8 months
Maternal report of The Child Behavior Checklist, internalizing (score ranges from 0 to 33) and externalizing (score ranges from 0 to 35) scales. More checks in each scale mean more internalizing or externalizing symptoms.
Changes in Child internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Time frame: 16 months
Maternal report of The Child Behavior Checklist, internalizing (score ranges from 0 to 33) and externalizing (score ranges from 0 to 35) scales. More checks in each scale mean more internalizing or externalizing symptoms.
Changes in Child internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Time frame: 24 months
Maternal report of The Child Behavior Checklist, internalizing (score ranges from 0 to 33) and externalizing (score ranges from 0 to 35) scales. More checks in each scale mean more internalizing or externalizing symptoms.
Changes in Child internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Time frame: 6 months-post RCT
Maternal report of The Child Behavior Checklist, internalizing (score ranges from 0 to 33) and externalizing (score ranges from 0 to 35) scales. More checks in each scale mean more internalizing or externalizing symptoms.
Access to health care
Time frame: Baseline
The assessment will be based on maternal report about each child's health care utilization history including primary care, urgent care, and hospital care. Primary care visits will be classified by purpose: vaccination, routine check-up, or sick visits. Similar procedures to the ones in place in our ongoing study will be used to obtain child medical records in the primary care unit.
Changes in Access to health care
Time frame: 8 months
The assessment will be based on maternal report about each child's health care utilization history including primary care, urgent care, and hospital care. Primary care visits will be classified by purpose: vaccination, routine check-up, or sick visits. Similar procedures to the ones in place in our ongoing study will be used to obtain child medical records in the primary care unit.
Changes in Access to health care
Time frame: 16 months
The assessment will be based on maternal report about each child's health care utilization history including primary care, urgent care, and hospital care. Primary care visits will be classified by purpose: vaccination, routine check-up, or sick visits. Similar procedures to the ones in place in our ongoing study will be used to obtain child medical records in the primary care unit.
Changes in Access to health care
Time frame: 24 months
The assessment will be based on maternal report about each child's health care utilization history including primary care, urgent care, and hospital care. Primary care visits will be classified by purpose: vaccination, routine check-up, or sick visits. Similar procedures to the ones in place in our ongoing study will be used to obtain child medical records in the primary care unit.
Child brain MRI scan
Time frame: Baseline
Child participants will undergo an MRI scan (\~1 hour) to examine the function and connectivity of EF-related brain systems
Changes in Child brain MRI scan
Time frame: 24 months
Child participants will undergo an MRI scan (\~1 hour) to examine the function and connectivity of EF-related brain systems
Child Executive Function
Time frame: Baseline
Brazilian version of the Child Executive Functions Battery (CEF-B) assesses working memory, inhibition, flexibility and planning. Score ranges vary by domain. Higher scores mean higher capacity on specific domain.
Changes in Child Executive Function
Time frame: 24 months
Brazilian version of the Child Executive Functions Battery (CEF-B) assesses working memory, inhibition, flexibility and planning. Score ranges vary by domain. Higher scores mean higher capacity on specific domain.
Changes in Child Executive Function
Time frame: 6 months-post RCT
Brazilian version of the Child Executive Functions Battery (CEF-B) assesses working memory, inhibition, flexibility and planning. Score ranges vary by domain. Higher scores mean higher capacity on specific domain.
Biospecimen - Child hair sample
Time frame: Baseline
Child hair samples to measure HPA activity (cortisol)
Biospecimen - Changes in Child hair sample
Time frame: 24 months
Child hair samples to measure HPA activity(cortisol)
Biospecimen - Blood Draw - IL-6
Time frame: Baseline
Primary immune measures will consist of IL-6 and CRP, consistent with prior research on inflammation and neurodevelopment.
Biospecimen - Blood Draw - Change in IL-6
Time frame: 24 months
Primary immune measures will consist of IL-6 and CRP, consistent with prior research on inflammation and neurodevelopment.
Biospecimen - Blood Draw - CRP
Time frame: Baseline
Primary immune measures will consist of IL-6 and CRP, consistent with prior research on inflammation and neurodevelopment.
Biospecimen - Blood Draw - Change in CRP
Time frame: 24 months
Primary immune measures will consist of IL-6 and CRP, consistent with prior research on inflammation and neurodevelopment.
Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-III (FACES-III)
Time frame: Baseline
This 20-item parent-report scale assesses family cohesion and adaptability. Cohesion: scores range from 0-50, higher scores mean a more cohesive family. Adaptability: scores range from 0-50, higher scores mean a more adaptable family.
Change in Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale-III (FACES-III)
Time frame: 24 months
This 20-item parent-report scale assesses family cohesion and adaptability. Cohesion: scores range from 0-50, higher scores mean a more cohesive family. Adaptability: scores range from 0-50, higher scores mean a more adaptable family.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- Age 23-45 years old
- Receiving AB cash transfers
- Has at least two or more children ages 7- 10 years old at time of recruitment (up to 4 children per family)
- Able to consent
Exclusion criteria
- 1\. Mother and child do not reside in same household Child: Inclusion Criterion
- Age 7-10 years old
- Intellectual Disability Exclusion Criterion
- Does not reside in same household as the mother
- Major Axis I disorder (e.g., Autism, Schizophrenia, Bipolar)
- Severe Disability
- MRI contradictions (index child only)
Where
- New York, New York
Collaborators
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Apr 23, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations