Table 1 Key definitions of core concepts

Participation/ inclusivity in development of policies and plans

This looked at the extent to which a policy or plan provided for (i) mechanisms (or representation) for communities to participate in, claim and benefit from entitlements in national systems and/or (ii) stakeholder engagement in its development and/or (iii) dissemination to key stakeholders or the general public

Equity considerations in budgets and resource allocation

This looked at the extent to which policy or plan incorporated inequity metrics (e.g. deprivation) in public budget resource allocation

Non – discrimination

This examined whether the policy or plan supported the rights of vulnerable groups to have equal opportunity in receiving health care

Individualized services (also referred elsewhere as acceptability [26])

This examined the extent to which a policy or plan supported the rights of vulnerable groups to receive individually tailored services to meet their needs and choices

Entitlement:

This looked at whether the policy or plan stipulated how vulnerable groups qualified for specific benefits relevant to them

Access

This looked at whether the policy or plan supported vulnerable groups in terms of their physical, economic, and information access to health services

Quality

This examined whether the policy or plan supported quality services to vulnerable groups through highlighting the need for evidence-based and professionally skilled practice

Efficiency

This examined the extent to which a policy or plan supported efficiency by providing a structured way of matching health system resources with service demands to address health needs of vulnerable groups

Effectiveness (Evidence-based focus)

This examined whether the policy or plan used best evidence and practises to optimize health outcomes.

Accountability:

This examined whether the policy or plan under review specified to whom, and for what, services providers were accountable

Do no harm/ Safety

This examined whether the policy or plan under review provided for minimization of risks during healthcare delivery

Cultural responsiveness

This looked at whether the policy or plan under review ensured services responded to the beliefs, values, gender, interpersonal styles, attitudes, cultural, ethnic, or linguistic, aspects of the person.

Intersectionality

This examined whether the policy under review took into account intersectionality i.e. going beyond the singular categories that are typically favoured in equity-driven analyses (e.g., sex and gender in sex and gender based analysis) and also beyond the kind of enumerated list of determinants of health often found in health impact assessments (e.g. residence, wealth etc.) to consider interactions between categories and determinants simultaneously e.g. impact of gender and education level simultaneously [26].

Human resources for health (HRH)

This looked at whether the policy or plan provided for the development (e.g. through training) and maintenance of appropriate HRH to ensure adequate provision of quality healthcare services to women and children

Infrastructure

This examined whether the policy or plan provided for the development and maintenance of appropriate infrastructure to ensure adequate provision of quality healthcare services to women and children