The Oportunidades Conditional Cash Transfer Program: Impacts on Pregnancy and Contraceptive Use in Young Rural Women in Mexico

Blair G. Darney, Oregon Health & Science University
Marcia Weaver, University of Washington, Seattle
Sandra Sosa-Rubi, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP)
Dilys Walker, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP)
Edson Sevran-Mori, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP)
Sarah Prager, University of Washington, Seattle
Emmanuela Gakidou, University of Washington

Oportunidades is a large conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in Mexico. We examined the impact of exposure to Oportunidades on pregnancy and contraceptive use among young rural women (15-24) in Mexico. We used the 2006 ENADID survey with a matched sample and multivariable logistic regression. We calculated predicted probabilities and estimated indirect effects. In multivariable analyses, Oportunidades is not independently associated with reduced odds of reporting any pregnancy among adolescents (OR = .74; CI = .53, 1.04), but being in school is (OR = 0.53; CI = .35 , .80), and school appears to be a mediator. Marriage, previous pregnancy, and access to health insurance are significantly associated with increased odds of contraceptive use, Oportunidades is not. Oportunidades may indirectly delay fertility among adolescents via schooling. Mexico should focus on increasing the rate of contraceptive use among rural women 15-24 overall, especially nulliparous women, regardless of Oportunidades enrollment.