Flint cut infant deaths in half with cash to mothers

Flint's hidden crisis

Flint, Michigan, a city of roughly eighty thousand, has carried a tragically high newborn mortality rate for years alongside its water crisis.

Mortality nearly double the nation

In two thousand twenty-four, Flint had nine point four infant deaths for every one thousand births, nearly twice the US rate of five point fifty-four.

Cash transfers to pregnant mothers

Over two years, Flint tested Rx Kids, a no-strings-attached cash program run by nonprofit GiveDirectly. Pregnant women received fifteen hundred dollars at enrollment, then five hundred dollars monthly until one year after birth.

Neonatal deaths drop nearly half

New findings showed neonatal mortality in Flint dropped from nine point four to five point one deaths per one thousand live births after mothers received cash assistance.

How mothers spent the money

According to Mona Hanna, associate dean for public health at Michigan State University and co-director of Rx Kids, mothers spent money largely on baby supplies, followed by rent and food.

Better prenatal care and outcomes

Hanna said mothers in the program were able to get screening, treatment and resources they needed. For a baby to not be born prematurely, they have to have good prenatal care, and we saw that.

“For a baby to not be born prematurely, they have to have good prenatal care, and we saw that.”

Study limitations and questions

Nigel Paneth, emeritus professor of epidemiology at Michigan State University, called findings promising but noted the study lacked a randomized control group, making it unclear if results would generalise elsewhere.

Program expands across Michigan

Rx Kids is expanding to over sixty locations across Michigan with financial support from the state itself. Hanna said poverty is a pathogen that makes kids and communities sick.

“Poverty is a pathogen. It makes kids sick and communities sick.”