Women represent the largest proportion of poor populations and they are also the poorest amongst the poor. The extent of social exclusion and gender-based violence against women in the poorest communities represent a substantial factor in HAP outcomes. International support should favour those efforts and policies aimed at ensuring better HAP outcomes amongst the poorest populations. Ensuring improved HAP outcomes for the poorest requires multi-sectoral strategies . In addition to per capita income and consumption, definitions of poverty must take into account social indicators such as education, health, and access to services and social infrastructure.
Poverty is multi-dimensional and the various 'aspects' which 'constitute' poverty can vary.
Increased understanding on the interaction between healthand poverty has moved health to the centre of thinking on poverty. There is some evidence that improved HAP status can also improve poverty status. The potential for HAP efforts in reducing poverty need to be explored further and priority should be given to those HAP efforts which have a positive effect on poverty status. The challenge for HAP policy makers is to identify strategies which allow the effective realisation of the potential which improved health has in developing human capital and ultimately empowering the poorest to move out of poverty. How to develop such strategies remains a vast area for future analysis and exploration and it will require clearer understanding of the dynamics of poverty reduction and investment in human capital.