Stoner MCD, Kilburn K, Godfrey-Faussett P, et al. - For achieving social protection and development goals in a number of different domains, a widely used policy strategy is cash transfers. In recent reviews, the impacts of cash transfer interventions on HIV prevention outcomes have been reported, however, there are many recent studies that have not yet been captured in these reviews.

• Researchers sought to update the current evidence linked with cash transfers for HIV prevention via performing a systematic review of quantitative studies of cash transfer interventions, interventions to reduce school costs, and matched savings programs extending from January 2000 to December 2020.

• The studies describe the mixed impacts on HIV infection.

• A reduction in HIV incidence or prevalence was recorded in only 3 of the 8 studies that included HIV biomarkers.

• Statistically significant association was recorded in four of eight studies that included other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and all four of these studies involved conditionalities based on testing STI negative or secondary schooling.

• Findings from a total of 10/18 (56%) interventions suggest a statistically significant reduction on delaying sexual debut, in most cases only for girls and not for boys.

• Overall there was limited evidence base for large-scale impacts of cash transfers reducing HIV risk; however, the most promising for HIV prevention were government social protection cash transfer programs and programs that incentivize school attendance among adolescent girls and young women.