In pictures: Fighting maternal mortality

South Asia has been described as the most "gender insensitive region in the world". Unicef says that from birth women are given a smaller share of food (60% of women in their childbearing years suffer from malnutrition), a larger share of work and little or no say in their own healthcare.

They are likely to marry earlier and have had little or no education and live on or below the poverty line. Here, breakfast is served for pregnant women in Malalai hospital in Kabul.