[Targeting and coverage of the Bolsa Família program in children from the BRISA Birth Cohorts, Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo State) and São Luís (Maranhão State), Brazil].

The aim of this cross-sectional study nested in a cohort was to describe the targeting and coverage of the Family Income program in children 13 to 35 months of age. Data were obtained from the BRISA Birth Cohorts in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, and São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil. The cohorts started in 2010 with the inclusion of all the births in Ribeirão Preto (7,794) and 5,236 in São Luís, covering a random sample of one third. In the follow-up waves in 2011 and 2013, 3,805 children returned in Ribeirão Preto and 3,308 in São Luís. The data were used from the time of follow-up and were integrated with the information from the Single Registry (CadÚnico). Two eligibility criteria were considered for receiving the Family Income benefit: monthly per capita family income of BRL 140.00 or less (approximately USD 38.00) and economic classes D/E. The percentages of targeting and covering were estimated for Family Income. Weighting was performed for losses to follow-up. According to family income, the program's targeting was 33.8% in São Luís and 15.9% in Ribeirão Preto; according to economic class, it was 33.7% in São Luís and 15.3% in Ribeirão Preto. According to per capita family income, coverage was 82.1% in São Luís and 71.6% in Ribeirão Preto; and according to economic class it was 68.9% in São Luís and 46.8% in Ribeirão Preto. The program's targeting rates were low, while the coverage rates were better. Both indicators were higher in São Luís than in Ribeirão Preto.