[The Bolsa Família Program and educational indicators of children, adolescents, and schools in Brazil: a systematic review]

Cien Saude Colet. 2019 Jun 27;24(6):2233-2247. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232018246.19582017.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

The "Bolsa Família" Program (BFP) is an income transfer program based on meeting certain conditions, being Brazil's main strategy for combating extreme poverty, hunger and social inequality. To satisfy the educational criteria, the offspring of the beneficiary families must attend school and score minimum school attendance rates. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to assess the outcomes (effects and impact) of the BFP on educational indicators among the beneficiary families. A search was conducted in the Medline, Lilacs, EBSCO, Econstor, Science Direct and Web of Knowledge databases and the methodological quality of the articles included was evaluated using the Downs & Black checklist. Of the 2,391 studies identified, only 12 were selected. There was evidence that BFP had positive outcomes on educational indicators for the female gender and for the Northern region of Brazil. The results showed that BFP has no impact on academic proficiency and performance, but has a significant impact on school attendance and dropout rates.

O Programa Bolsa Família (PBF) é de transferência condicionada de renda, sendo a principal estratégia do Brasil para o combate à pobreza extrema, à fome e à desigualdade social. As condicionalidades na educação propiciam as condições de escolarização para os beneficiários. O objetivo do estudo foi realizar uma revisão sistemática para avaliar os desfechos (efeitos e impactos) do Programa Bolsa Família em indicadores educacionais entre os beneficiários. Foram consultadas as bases Medline, Lilacs, EBSCO, Econstor, Science Direct e Web of Knowledge. A qualidade metodológica dos artigos incluídos foi avaliada por meio de escores da escala de Downs & Black. Foram identificados 2.391 estudos e selecionados 12. Houve evidências de que o PBF tem desfechos positivos em indicadores educacionais para o sexo feminino e para a Região Norte. Como resultados, demostrou-se que o PBF não tem repercussão na proficiência e no desempenho escolar, mas impacta significativamente nas taxas de abandono e na frequência escolar.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brazil
  • Child
  • Educational Status
  • Female
  • Government Programs / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Poverty
  • Public Assistance / statistics & numerical data*
  • Schools*
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors