Coverage of the Programa Bolsa Família and proportion of hospitalizations for waterborne diseases in the state of Minas Gerais

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the effects of the coverage of the Bolsa Família Program (PBF) on the proportion of hospitalizations due to waterborne diseases in the state of Minas Gerais, the second most populous state in Brazil, using an econometric model with dynamic panel data for the period 2013-2021. The main finding indicates that higher PBF coverage in municipalities of Minas Gerais is associated with a reduction in the proportion of hospitalizations for such diseases. This result can be explained by the fact that the PBF ensures a minimum income for families, which tends to improve health, education, and basic hygiene conditions. Furthermore, the program’s conditionalities, which include compliance with the national vaccination schedule, monitoring beneficiaries’ nutritional status, and prenatal care for pregnant women, facilitate early disease detection and reduce its incidence, particularly in communities with greater socioeconomic vulnerability.