Table 2.

Demographic characteristics of the two samples

Characteristics		Peri‐urban mothers	Rural mothers
		(n = 12)	(n = 26)
Mean age of mothers in years (range)		30 (23–41)	30 (18–40)
Mean number of children (range)		4 (1–8)	5 (0–9)
% women who had 1 or more children die		NA	31% (8)
Delivery with the help of skilled attendants at the hospital		NA	47% (14)
Mean newborn age at time of interview in days		26 ± 8	6 ± 4
Level of education	% no schooling	8% (1)	50% (13)
	% primary school	8% (1)	50% (13)
	% secondary school	84% (10)	0% (0)
Type of marriage	% monogamous	83% (10)	57% (17)
	% polygamous	17% (2)	35% (9)
Location of post‐partum seclusion	Her natal home	92% (11)	23% (6)
	Her own home	8% (1)	77% (20)