Sara Toros, Ronal Ruiz, Samuel A G da Silva, Pablo Álvarez, Monsermin Gualán, Klauss K S Garcia, Mauricio L Barreto, Philip J Cooper, Peter Craig, Natalia Romero-Sandoval, Julia M Pescarini, Ana L Moncayo, Global Health Research Unit on the Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Inequalities (SEDHI) SEDHI members list
•National longitudinal analysis of BDH and maternal mortality in Ecuador.•No clear overall association between BDH coverage and maternal mortality.•Stronger inverse associations in Afro-Ecuadorian and urban areas.•Similar effects of the cash transfer were found before and during COVID-19 pandemic.•Health-system capacity showed some evidence of modifying associations.