Table 1 Characteristics of the selected study blocks (sub-district)

Physical characteristics

• Largely flat terrain

• Mix of hills & plains

• Rocky steep slopes

• Clustered housing pattern

• Majority clustered housing pattern

• Forest cover

• Scattered houses spread over 4 sq kms.

Accessibility (approach road, distance from town, variety of transport available)

• Good roads

• Good roads

• Good roads surrounding villages but kuccha roads inside the village

• Situated along highway connecting other provinces

• Within 15 kms of two towns

• 30 kms. from block head quarters

• 30 kms from district headquarters

• Connected through buses and private transport

• Buses 2 times a day

• Connected by railways, buses, private transport

Availability of childbirth services in Government health facilities

• Best performing round the clock government Primary Health Centre (PHC)

• Non functional round the clock PHC and CHC

• Non functional round the clock PHC

• Non functional Community Health Centre (CHC)

• Functional subdistrict hospital 30 kms. Away

Availability of Private facilities

• Majority of district private doctors enrolled in Chiranjeevi Yojana (CY) in city near block

• Majority of private doctors enrolled in CY in city of adjoining district

• Only two CY doctors at block town