Results Data from 51 studies ( 15 more than previous review s ) and 22 cash transfer and voucher programmes  suggest that approaches tied to service use ( either via payment conditionalities or vouchers for selected services ) can increase use of antenatal care , use of a skilled attendant at birth and in the case of vouchers , postnatal care too .
The strongest evidence of positive effect was for conditional cash transfers and uptake of antenatal care , and for vouchers for maternity care services and birth with a skilled birth attendant .
However , effects appear to be shaped by a complex set of social and healthcare system barriers and facilitators .
There are few studies to indicate that programmes have led to improvements in quality of maternity care or maternal and newborn health outcomes .
Background Cash transfers and vouchers are forms of ‘ dem and -side financing ’ that have been widely used to promote maternal and newborn health in low- and middle-income countries during the last 15 years .
Empowering women to obtain high quality care: evidence from an evaluation of Mexico's conditional cash transfer programme.
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of Mexico 's conditional cash transfer programme on the quality of health care received by poor women . Quality is measured by maternal reports of prenatal care procedures received that correspond with clinical guidelines . METHODS The data describe retrospective reports of care received from 892 women in poor rural communities in seven Mexican states . The women were participating in an effectiveness study and r and omly assigned to incorporation into the programme in 1998 or 1999 . Eligible women accepted cash transfers conditional on obtaining health care and nutritional supplements , and participated in health education sessions . RESULTS Oportunidades beneficiaries received 12.2 % more prenatal procedures compared with non-beneficiaries ( adjusted mean 78.9 , 95 % Confidence Interval ( CI ) : 77.5 - 80.3 ; P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSION The Oportunidades conditional cash transfer programme is associated with better quality of prenatal care for low-income , rural women in Mexico . This result is probably a manifestation of the programme 's empowerment goal , by encouraging beneficiaries to be informed and active health consumers
Results Data from 51 studies ( 15 more than previous review s ) and 22 cash transfer and voucher programmes  suggest that approaches tied to service use ( either via payment conditionalities or vouchers for selected services ) can increase use of antenatal care , use of a skilled attendant at birth and in the case of vouchers , postnatal care too .
The strongest evidence of positive effect was for conditional cash transfers and uptake of antenatal care , and for vouchers for maternity care services and birth with a skilled birth attendant .
However , effects appear to be shaped by a complex set of social and healthcare system barriers and facilitators .
There are few studies to indicate that programmes have led to improvements in quality of maternity care or maternal and newborn health outcomes .
Background Cash transfers and vouchers are forms of ‘ dem and -side financing ’ that have been widely used to promote maternal and newborn health in low- and middle-income countries during the last 15 years .