Results Most interventions combined microfinance with health education , which demonstrated positive effects on health knowledge and behaviours , though not health status .
Interventions combining multiple health components in a given study demonstrated positive effects , though it was unclear which component was driving the effect .
Discussion Integrated microfinance and health education programs were effective , though longer intervention periods are necessary to measure more complex pathways to health status .
The effect of microfinance combined with other health components was less clear .
Background Solutions delivered within firm sectoral boundaries are inadequate in achieving income security and better health for poor population s.  Integrated microfinance and health interventions leverage networks of women to promote financial inclusion , build livelihoods , and safeguard against high cost illnesses .
Our underst and ing of the effect of integrated interventions has been limited by variability in intervention , outcome , design , and method ological rigour .
This systematic review synthesis es the literature through 2015 to underst and the effect of  integrated microfinance and health programs .
Microfinance against malaria: impact of Freedom from Hunger's malaria education when delivered by rural banks in Ghana.
A community r and omized pre-test/post-test design was used to compare the knowledge and behaviors of  microfinance clients receiving malaria education ( n=213 ) to those receiving diarrhea education ( n=223 ) and to non-client controls ( n=268 ) . Comparisons assessed differences at follow-up as well as within-group changes over time . At follow-up , malaria clients had significantly better malaria knowledge than comparison groups : 48.4 % of malaria clients were able to identify groups most vulnerable to malaria compared with 39.2 % of diarrhea clients ( P=0.044 ) and 37.7 % of non-clients ( P=0.024 ) . Malaria clients were more likely than diarrhea clients ( P=0.024 ) ( P<0.001 ) and non-clients ( P=0.028 ) ( P=0.004 ) to report that insecticide-treated nets ( ITNs ) provide the best protection against malaria , and to agree that pregnant women should use ITNs , respectively . Between baseline and follow-up , malaria clients were most likely to : improve in knowledge of malaria complications during pregnancy ; to own at least one bed net ; and to report at least one child or woman of reproductive age sleeping under a bed net . Malaria clients also experienced the greatest increases in ITN ownership/use ( 9 % vs. 2.9 % and 6.7 % among diarrhea clients and non-clients ) . Results indicate that , although significant barriers to malaria control remain , a malaria education program provided by microfinance institutions can effectively contribute to community and national malaria initiatives
Results Most interventions combined microfinance with health education , which demonstrated positive effects on health knowledge and behaviours , though not health status .
Interventions combining multiple health components in a given study demonstrated positive effects , though it was unclear which component was driving the effect .
Discussion Integrated microfinance and health education programs were effective , though longer intervention periods are necessary to measure more complex pathways to health status .
The effect of microfinance combined with other health components was less clear .
Background Solutions delivered within firm sectoral boundaries are inadequate in achieving income security and better health for poor population s.  Integrated microfinance and health interventions leverage networks of women to promote financial inclusion , build livelihoods , and safeguard against high cost illnesses .
Our underst and ing of the effect of integrated interventions has been limited by variability in intervention , outcome , design , and method ological rigour .
This systematic review synthesis es the literature through 2015 to underst and the effect of  integrated microfinance and health programs .