Unconditional cash transfers to low-income preterm infants and their families: a pilot randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: Unconditional cash transfers (UCTs)-no strings attached monthly payments-to low-income families may reduce financial stress and improve health outcomes. We sought to determine the feasibility and acceptability of randomizing low-income caregivers of preterm infants to a high- or low-value UCT for 4 months. STUDY DESIGN: Parallel, pilot randomized controlled trial that was preregistered (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05930327). We enrolled 24 birthing parent-infant dyads. The intervention was a $325 monthly UCT and the active control was a $25 monthly UCT. RESULT: The intervention was feasible and universally acceptable among families in the high-value cash transfer arm. Exploratory outcomes revealed a high degree of financial strain, stress, and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: This study provides feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy data to inform a future, larger trial to examine the impacts of UCTs to low-income birthing parents of preterm infants. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05930327.