Increasing access and utilization of health care services is not sufficient for maternal health outcomes. However, health care providers should consider providing services that are safe, and of high quality if positive maternal and neonatal outcomes are to be achieved.

The project aimed at addressinga key concern of the Malawian Ministry of Health (MOH), namely the persistence of a high maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 439/100,000 live births despite a facility birth rate of 73%.