Table 1.

Background characteristics in intervention and comparison areas, based on various data sources

	Intervention area	Comparison area	t	p Value
Propensity score components
Human Development Index: life expectancy (years)*	61.23	62.88	−0.76	0.457
Human Development Index: adult literacy (%)*	51.40	54.38	−0.73	0.475
Human Development Index: school enrolment (%)*	2.77	2.88	−0.33	0.742
Human Development Index: gross domestic product purchasing power parity (PPP US$)*	1293.6	1315.2	−0.15	0.883
Urban population (%)†	16.79	17.85	−0.25	0.803
District performance score (average)‡ (as a proxy for a district’s leadership ability and proactiveness in implementing new initiatives)	74.25	73.77	0.28	0.781
Road density (km/km2)† (as a measure of access and ability to monitor the programme)	0.251	0.258	−0.07	0.941
Donor presence (average number)§	1.3	1.4	0.25	0.806
Population and health infrastructure characteristics¶
Population	4.9 million	4.4 million
Expected pregnancies (n)	142 000	128 000
Number of hospitals	14	11
Number of primary healthcare centres	39	39
Number of health posts	87	89
Number of subhealth posts	435	456
Number of private health institutions	49	38
Number of birthing centres	203	183
Population per birthing centre	24 159	24 330
Number of FCHVs	6903	7378
Population per FCHV	710	603

*UNDP. Nepal Human Development Report, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2004.

†District Profile of Nepal 2007/08: a socio-economic development database of Nepal, Intensive Study and Research Center of Nepal, Kathmandu, 2009.

‡MOH. District Annual Performance Criteria, personal communication, Ghanashyam Pokharel, 2011.

§AIN. Health Mapping Report, Association of International NGOs in Nepal, Kathmandu, 2008.

¶Health Management Information System database, made available on request by Management Division, 2010.

FCHV, female community health volunteer.