Regional inequity in complete antenatal services and public emergency obstetric care is associated with greater burden of maternal deaths: analysis from consecutive district level facility survey of Karnataka, India

BACKGROUND: This equity focused evaluation analyses change in inter-district inequity of maternal health services (MHS) in Karnataka state between 2006–07 & 2012–13, alongside association of MHS inequity with distribution of maternal deaths. METHODS: Repeated cross-sectional analysis of inequity and decomposition was done on nine district level MHS indicators using Theil’s T index. Data was obtained from population linked district level facility surveys and health information systems. RESULTS: Inequity in births attended by skill birth attendants decreased the most (83.16%) among six other MHS indicators. Community provision of comprehensive emergency obstetric care strategy remained stagnant. Districts with higher complete antenatal care share and C-sections in public settings had lesser share of state’s maternal deaths (R(2) = 0.29, p = 0.004). 5 districts suffered perpetual inequity of MHS with relatively greater burden of maternal deaths. CONCLUSION: First 6 years of national rural health mission increased coverage of MHS and decreased regional inequity albeit non-uniformly. Distribution of system driven interventions of complete ANC and C-sections appear to determine decrease of maternal mortality in Karnataka. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12939-017-0573-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.