Equality-related research has developed rapidly over the past 30 years. In the 1980s, only approximately one dozen papers on equity were published each year . By 2015, a total of 3521 Chinese and English documents on equity/equality in health were published, indicating that policy makers, project sponsors and non-governmental organizations paid more attention to the need for increased research in equality in health. Many of the policy statements and findings from the WHO strongly call for a reduction in the disparities in maternal and child health between countries and different socioeconomic groups within countries [5–7]. The World Development Report 2006 published by the World Bank noted that the inequality of opportunity between countries was staggering, not only in terms of inequality in survival opportunities, but also in education, health and the use of infrastructure and other public services . Relevant foreign studies have shown that the coverage rate and service quality of antenatal care are significantly higher in urban areas than in rural areas [9, 10]. Women with higher levels of education are more likely to choose caesarean delivery for childbirth and receive more antenatal care . Additionally, children in poor households are more prone to growth retardation, being underweight, anaemia, and diarrhoea . Health equality in practice has been actively explored in foreign countries, and a series of related measures have been formulated; these measures have mainly included changes in the public health service model by integrating health resources, expanding health service areas and strengthening supervision and management. A series of measures has contributed to the improvement of health equality . One study has shown a distinct difference in women’s and children’s health in Asian countries, with up to 33-fold differences in the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) between Japan and Afghanistan and 67-fold differences in the maternal mortality rate (MMR) . The prevalence of this health inequality was a concern of Marie-Paule Kieny, Deputy Director-General of the WHO , who noted that the current primary task was to ensure the continued health improvement of vulnerable groups by monitoring health inequalities in developing countries.