A landmark study conducted by Jesus GS, Pinto PFPS, Silva AF et al. involving 54.5 million low-income Brazilians demonstrated that conditional cash transfer programs like Brazil’s Bolsa Família Program (BFP) can help achieve global tuberculosis (TB) targets.

Implemented in 2004, the BFP provides financial support to poor families on the condition that they meet specific health and education requirements.

The study analyzed TB incidence, mortality, and case fatality rates between 2004 and 2015, comparing BFP beneficiaries (23.9 million) with non-beneficiaries (30.6 million).

Results showed a significant reduction in TB cases and deaths among beneficiaries, with a more than 50% decrease in extremely poor individuals and 60% among indigenous populations.

The improved access to food, reducing food insecurity and malnutrition—a key TB risk factor—was identified as a major reason for these outcomes.

The study underscores the role of social protection programs in reducing TB burden, highlighting their potential to support global health goals, including the END-TB strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals.