Despite its many advantages, the employment of women in economic activity in India has been associated with increased mortality for infants and young children. Simultaneously, narrower gender differentials in child mortality among employed women have been noted.

The existing structural nature of women's work (domestic as well as non-domestic) has severe built-in hazards for women (reproductive and otherwise) which no amount of first rate quality of care, total coverage and/or access to health services alone can deal with.

In many developing countries, women's activities, traditionally confined to the household, have changed over time.

The health of the general population as well as specific groups (infants, women, etc) has for long been an important concern for development studies.