Final answer:
Gender equality has a significant impact on health and health status in developing countries, particularly for women. Poor living conditions, inadequate healthcare, and harmful practices like female genital mutilation contribute to health disparities. Lack of access to healthcare providers is a major factor in high maternal death rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
In developing countries, gender equality has a significant impact on health and health status. The phrase "global feminization of poverty" highlights that women often bear the brunt of poor living conditions, inadequate healthcare, malnutrition, and lack of clean drinking water. Data shows that poverty rates for women increased nearly 20 percent more than for men in the 1990s. Gender inequity is also a concern, as certain practices like female genital mutilation can have harmful health consequences. Lack of access to healthcare providers contributes to high maternal death rates in developing countries.