Evaluating cash transfers and health advice impact on child health: evidence from low-performing Indian states under Janani Suraksha Yojana

Purpose The purpose of this study is to understand the impact of conditional cash transfers (CCT) and health advice (HA) provided under India’s Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) on child health outcomes, specifically neonatal and infant mortality (NMR and IMR) rates, in India’s low-performing states. By analysing data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the authors aim to analyse the individual and combined impact of CCT and HA on improving child health, particularly for children of mothers with low education, from disadvantaged castes and with lesser wealth. Design/methodology/approach This research analyses data from the NFHS 2015–2016 (NFHS-4) and 2019–2021 (NFHS-5) to examine the effects of CCT under the JSY and HA on child health outcomes in public health-care settings. The methodology involves using descriptive statistics, regression models and sub-group analyses to compare NMR and IMR among different socio-economic groups. This study also explores variations by caste, education and wealth, assessing the impact of CCT and HA on enhancing child health outcomes. Findings This study finds that CCT under JSY significantly reduce NMR and IMR, especially when combined with HA. While CCT alone improves child health outcomes, HA alone does not show a significant effect. The combined impact of CCT and HA is most effective for children of mothers with low education, from disadvantaged castes and lower-income families. However, a decline in CCT coverage from 2015–2016 to 2019–2021 suggests missed opportunities for improving child health outcomes, highlighting the need for better HA delivery and expanded CCT reach. Originality/value This study contributes original insights by differentiating the impacts of CCT and HA on child health outcomes within India’s JSY. Unlike existing research, it distinctly evaluates the separate and combined effects of CCT and HA, demonstrating the enhanced effectiveness of their integration. This research emphasises the significance of targeting CCT and HA to the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups to optimise health outcomes. This nuanced analysis provides valuable implications for policymakers, suggesting enhancements in the delivery of health services and the structuring of maternal assistance programmes to better address inequality and improve child health.