(Abstracted from Pediatrics 2016;137(6):e20152992) The prenatal period is an important period that impacts newborn and lifelong health; exposure to stress, poor nutrition, or substance abuse during this period leads to adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight and preterm birth. Several initiatives across the world that utilize conditional cash or food transfer include Oportunidades (Mexico), Bolsa Familia Program (Brazil), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC, United States) have been undertaken to improve prenatal health and birth outcomes.

The PATHS Data Resource is a unique database comprising data that follow individuals from the prenatal period to adulthood. The PATHS Resource was developed for conducting longitudinal epidemiological research into child health and health equity. It contains individual-level data on health, socioeconomic status, social services and education. Individuals’ data are linkable across these domains, allowing researchers to follow children through childhood and across a variety of sectors. PATHS includes nearly all individuals that were born between 1984 and 2012 and registered with Manitoba’s universal health insurance programme at some point during childhood. All PATHS data are anonymized. Key concepts, definitions and algorithms necessary to work with the PATHS Resource are freely accessible online and an interactive forum is available to new researchers working with these data. The PATHS Resource is one of the richest and most complete databases assembled for conducting longitudinal epidemiological research, incorporating many variables that address the social determinants of health and health equity. Interested researchers are encouraged to contact [mchp_access@cpe.umanitoba.ca] to obtain access to PATHS to use in their own programmes of research.

On behalf of the PATHS Equity for Children Team abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Perinatal outcomes have improved in developed countries but remain poor for disadvantaged populations. We examined whether an unconditional income supplement to low-income pregnant women was associated with improved birth outcomes.