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This paper analyzes the definitions of child poverty with respect to both the current thinking about the term, and its relationship to Conditional Cash Transfers. Principal definitions in Conditional Cash Transfers are reviewed here, as well as the main critiques to this approach to social protection. Challenges and risk faced by money transfers erected as the main strategies to deal with child poverty in Latin America are analyzed. To do so, we focus particularly on protection and provision of rights. The conclusions note, despite the various positions that consider the conceptions on poverty underlying the CCTs programs to be broader and more comprehensive than those in other types of programs, this definition does not include essential aspects of the experience of children in poverty and of inequality

Recently, the first ever estimate of the number of children living poverty in developing countries was undertaken. The incidence of child poverty was estimated by establishing how many children suffer severe deprivation in at least one out of seven indicators which are internationally recognized as their rights as well as constitutive of poverty. This is a major step forward in the analysis of poverty. In this paper, we generalize these findings on the incidence of children living in poverty by exploring how to estimate the depth and severity of child poverty. Two countries can have the same proportion of children living in poverty, however, the actual plight of children could be very different depending on how many deprivations, on average, children suffer. In addition, even if they suffer from the same average number of deprivations, these deprivation could be the same for all children or be very unevenly distributed. We show how these considerations can be used to estimate the depth and severity of poverty. We use regional data to provide applied examples of this methodology. The method proposed in this paper is similar to the one used to estimate the incidence, depth and severity of income poverty. The paper also offers some possible generalizations and ways forward for future research.

Objective This analysis seeks to set the stage for equity-sensitive monitoring of the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Methods We use data from international household-level surveys (Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)) to demonstrate that establishing an equity baseline is necessary and feasible, even in low-income and datapoor countries. We assess data from six countries using 11 health indicators and six social stratifiers. Simple bivariate stratification is complemented by simultaneous stratification to expose the compound effect of multiple forms of vulnerability. Findings The data reveal that inequities are complex and interactive: inferences cannot be drawn about the nature or extent of inequities in health outcomes from a single stratifier or indicator. Conclusion The MDGs and other development initiatives must become more comprehensive and explicit in their analysis and tracking of inequities. The design of policies to narrow health gaps must take into account country-specific inequities. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2006;84:519-527. Resume Mise en place des conditions necessaires a un suivi favorable a l'equite des progres en direction des Obiectifs du Millenaire pour le developpement relatifs a la sante maternelle et infantile Objectif La presente analyse s'attache a definir les conditions necessaires a un suivi favorable a l'equite des progres en direction des Objectifs du Millenaire pour le developpement (OMD) relatifs a la sante maternelle et infantile. Methodes Des donnees tirees d'enquetes internationales aupres des menages (Enquetes demographiques et de sante, DHS) et d'enquetes en grappes a indicateurs multiples (MICS) ont servi a demontrer la necessite et la faisabilite de l'etablissement d'un point de comparaison pour l'equite, meme pour les pays a faible revenu et pour lesquels les elements disponibles sont rares. Les donnees provenant de six pays ont ete soumises a une evaluation utilisant onze indicateurs sanitaires et considerant six couches sociales. En plus de la stratification bivariee simple, il a ete procede a une stratification simultanee, destinee a mettre en evidence l'effet multifactoriel des formes multiples de vulnerabilite. Resultats Les donnees font apparaitre la complexite des inequites et l'existence d'interactions entre elles : il est impossible de formuler des deductions quant a la nature et a l'ampleur de ces inequites a partir d'un parametre de stratification ou d'un indicateur unique. Conclusion Les OMD et autres initiatives en faveur du developpement devront integrer une analyse et un suivi plus complets et plus explicites des inequites. Dans la conception des politiques visant a reduire les disparites en matiere d'acces a la sante, il convient de prendre en compte les inequites specifiques a chaque pays. Resumen Creacion de un marco para que la monitorizacion de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio relacionados con la salud materna e infantil sea sensible a la equidad Objetivo Este analisis trata de crear el marco para lograr que la monitorizacion de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio (ODM) relacionados con la salud sea sensible a la equidad. Metodos Hemos utilizado los datos de encuestas domiciliarias internacionales (encuestas sobre demografia y salud, y encuestas de conglomerados con multiples indicadores) para demostrar que es necesario y posible efectuar una descripcion basal de las inequidades, incluso en los paises de bajos ingresos que disponen de escasos datos. Hemos analizado en seis paises 11 indicadores sanitarios estratificados en funcion de seis variables sociales. La estratificacion bivariada simple se complemento con la estratificacion simultanea para poner de manifiesto el efecto compuesto de muItiples formas de vulnerabilidad. Resultados Los datos revelan que las inequidades son complejas e interactivas y que no es posible hacer inferencias acerca de la naturaleza o la magnitud de las inequidades de los resultados sanitarios a partir de un unico indicador o factor estratificador. Conclusion Tanto en los ODM como en otras iniciativas de desarrollo debe realizarse un analisis y seguimiento mas integral y explicito de las inequidades. La formulacion de politicas para reducir las diferencias en materia de salud deben tener en cuenta las inequidades especificas de cada pais. [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII], Introduction Inequities in health are pervasive within countries, rich and poor alike. Even in countries where aggregate health indicators are improving, some health gaps between population groups are widening or [...]

This paper analyses trends in coverage of three doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT3) by wealth groups in selected countries. It discusses the depth of disparities in coverage by wealth and changes during the 1990s. Complete assessment of equity in income and its trends have been discussed in other papers, however issues related to children's well-being have often been brushed aside because the comparable data needed to fully understand and rectify inequalities is lacking. A focal point of this paper pertains to gathering any and all information recorded about the immunization of children and then transcribing these data so that it is applicable to all countries. We analyse the technical difficulties and methodological solutions that would enable comparisons to be made between various measures of inequity taken from different surveys at two or three points in time among a variety of subpopulations in order to obtain disaggregated data. This paper argues for a simultaneous analysis of changes in averages and disparities in immunization coverage along variables of interest, such as wealth, gender and place of residence in order to achieve a better understanding of trends. We also focus on measurement issues and describe trends in immunization by wealth. We conclude with a brief discussion of issues related to monitoring equitable outcomes and offer suggestions for further research. In addition, the paper presents some lessons that can be drawn about monitoring and policies. We hope that this analysis of patterns of disparities will help policy-makers in devising, proposing and executing efficient policies and interventions. Keywords Immunization programs/economics/organization and administration; Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine/administration and dosage; Social justice: Socioeconomic factors; Delivery of health care; Health surveys; Child; Cross-cultural comparison (source: MESH, NLM). Mots cles Programmes de vaccination/economie/organisation et administration; Vaccin diphterie-tetanos-coqueluche/administration et posologie; Justice sociale; Facteur socioeconomique; Delivrance soins; Enquete sante; Enfant; Comparaison transculturelle (source: MESH, INSERM). Palabras clave Programas de inmunizacion/economia/organizacion y administracion; Vacuna difteria-tetanos-pertussis/administracion y dosificacion; Justicia social; Factores socioeconomicos; Prestacion de atencion de salud; Encuestas epidemiologicas; Nino; Comparacion transcultural (fuente: DeCS, BIREME). Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2005;82:384-391., Introduction The WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has promoted performance monitoring since its inception. A central feature of this system is the assessment of the programme's reach (that is, [...]

This article presents the first measurement of multidimensional child poverty at the regional level in East Asia and the Pacific and is based on child poverty studies in seven countries in the region: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam. It examines the prevalence of child poverty, as per the Bristol deprivation approach, in the seven countries, as well as the extent of various types of disparities within these countries. A composite measure, the Child Poverty Index, is also applied. Findings reveal that widespread and severe deprivation is being faced by children in one subset of countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Mongolia), while the other subset of countries (Philippines, Thailand, Vanuatu and Viet Nam) is confronted with pockets of deprived child populations and the issue of less severe deprivation. Alternative policy approaches to reduce child poverty in these two subsets of study countries are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Millennium Development Goals (MIDGs) have put maternal health in the mainstream, but there is a need to go beyond the MDGs to address equity within countries. We argue that MDG focus on maternal health is necessary but not sufficient. This paper uses Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana to examine a set of maternal health indicators stratified along five different dimensions. The study highlights the interactive and multiple forms of disadvantage and demonstrates that equity monitoring for the MDGs is possible, even given current data limitations., Methods: We analyse DHS data from Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia on four indicators: skilled birth attendant, contraceptive prevalence rate, AIDS knowledge and access to a health facility. We define six social strata along five different dimensions: poverty status, education, region, ethnicity and the more traditional wealth quintile. Data are stratified singly (e.g. by region) and then stratified simultaneously (e.g. by region and by education) in order to examine the compounded effect of dual forms of vulnerability., Results: Almost all disparities were found to be significant, although the stratifier with the strongest effect on health outcomes varied by indicator and by country. In some cases, urban-dwelling is a more significant advantage than wealth and in others, educational status trumps poverty status. The nuances of this analysis are important for policymaking processes aimed at reaching the MDGs and incorporating maternal health in national development plans., Conclusions: The article highlights the following key points about inequities and maternal health: 1) measuring and monitoring inequity in access to maternal health is possible even in low resource settings-using current data 2) statistically significant health gaps exist not just between rich and poor, but across other population groups as well, and multiple forms of disadvantage confer greater risk and 3) policies must be aligned with reducing health gaps in access to key maternal health services.