By Silvia Paruzzolo, Rekha Mehra, Aslihan Kes, Charles Ashbaugh

(ICRW)

This paper examines the ways in which poverty and gender inequality pose significant barriers to maternal health care access and utilization, and thereby impact maternal mortality. It also presents key findings from an analysis of the effects of different strategies designed to increase utilization of maternal health care services. A key part of the analysis looks at which outcomes were achieved and whether the benefits reached the poorest and most disempowered women.