It is widely recognised that poverty undermines early childhood development (ECD). In turn, poor childhood development reinforces the intergenerational transmission of poverty. Social protection could break this negative cycle by reducing poverty and addressing biological and psychosocial risk factors. In this study, we examine the effects of a relatively new wave of social protection and anti-poverty interventions – so-called ‘graduation programmes’ – on psychosocial risk factors in a context of widespread poverty and poor outcomes for children in rural Haiti. Using a mixed-methods approach, we find positive effects on maternal mental health and on children’s exposure to harsh corporal punishment. We find no discernible impact on exposure to violence inside and outside of the home, attitudes to child disciplining practices or child stimulation practices. Greater ability to meet children’s basic needs and positive support from programme staff contribute to positive effects. The ubiquity of violence, notions of play being replaced with a focus on discipline as babies turn toddlers and women struggling to combine child care with paid work and domestic chores serve as explanations for lack of impact. Findings point to the potential and limitations of social protection and anti-poverty interventions to address pernicious issues such as poor ECD outcomes and highlight the importance of a multi-sectoral approach.

众所周知，贫穷破坏了幼儿发展。反过来，不良的儿童时期发展加剧了贫困的代际传播。社会保护可以通过减少贫困和解决生物和社会心理风险因素来打破这一负面循环。在这项研究中，我们研究了相对较新的社会保护和反贫困干预浪潮（所谓的“毕业计划”）在海地农村普遍贫困和儿童结局较差的情况下对社会心理风险因素的影响。使用混合方法，我们发现了对产妇心理健康以及儿童遭受严厉体罚的积极影响。我们发现对家庭内外暴力暴露没有明显影响，对儿童管教或儿童刺激行为的态度。满足儿童基本需求的能力增强以及计划人员的积极支持有助于产生积极影响。暴力无处不在，随着婴儿转向学步，而挣扎着将育儿与有偿工作结合在一起的家务劳动的妇女，玩耍的观念被重点放在纪律上，这被解释为缺乏影响力的原因。调查结果指出了社会保护和反贫困干预措施在解决诸如不良ECD结果之类的有害问题方面的潜力和局限性，并强调了采取多部门方法的重要性。随着婴儿转向学步，而努力将育儿与有偿工作结合在一起的妇女和家务劳动，游戏观念被重点放在纪律上，这被解释为缺乏影响力的解释。调查结果指出了社会保护和反贫困干预措施在解决诸如不良ECD结果之类的有害问题方面的潜力和局限性，并强调了采取多部门方法的重要性。随着婴儿转向学步，而努力将育儿与有偿工作结合在一起的妇女和家务劳动，游戏观念被重点放在纪律上，这被解释为缺乏影响力的解释。研究结果指出了社会保护和反贫困干预措施的潜力和局限性，以解决诸如不良ECD结果之类的有害问题，并强调了采取多部门方法的重要性。