Table 1. Hospital characteristics.

Hospital A	Hospital B
Faith-based, not-for-profit facility functioning as a regional referral hospital.	Typical public rural district hospital.
Around 2000 annual deliveries.	Around 3000 annual deliveries.
Comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC) services are offered. There is a neonatal intensive care unit with incubators, baby heaters and baby—continuous positive airway pressure machines.	CEmONC services are offered. There is a neonatal care unit (not on intensive care unit level).
Labour ward staff include a gynaecologist, a medical doctor, intern doctors and nurse-midwives at certificate or diploma level. During a typical work shift there are 2–3 nurse-midwives at the labour ward.	Labour ward staff include a medical doctor and nurse-midwives at certificate or diploma level. During a typical work shift there are 1–2 nurse-midwives who are responsible for both the antenatal and labour ward.
Several delivery rooms offering more privacy. Running water and electricity are almost always available.	A single delivery room. Running water and electricity are often not available. There is a generator for the operating theatre.