Table 1 Characteristics of sample population (age ≥15) in two project areas

N = 625

N = 869

Predisposing factors

   Age 15-39.9

177 ( 28 )

329 (38)

P < 0.001

40-59.9

188 (30)

273 (31)

60+

260 (42)

267 (31)

   Gender, male

363 (58)

440 (50)

P = 0.005

   Marital status

P = 0.002

Married

417 (67)

649 (75)

Unmarried

133 (21)

150 (17)

Divorced

68 (11)

67 (8)

Widowed

7 (1)

3 (0.3)

   Education

P < 0.001

Illiterate

339(54)

327 (38)

Primary school

218(35)

365 (42)

Junior high school

57(9)

159 (18)

Senior high school

11(2)

18 (2)

Enabling factors

   Distance from home to nearest designated medical centre, ≤ 3 km

224(36)

534 (61)

P < 0.001

   Awareness of MFA detailed package

84(13)

410 (47)

P < 0.001

   Economic status, extremely poor

225(36)

164 (19)

P < 0.001

Need factors

   Disability status, disabled

179 (29)

130 (15)

P < 0.001

   Presence of illness in last 2 weeks

85 (14)

105 (12)

P = 0.385

   Presence of physician diagnosed chronic disease

176(28)

244 (28)

P = 0.972

Outcomes

   Physician visit rate of respondents in last 2 Weeks

56 (9)

78 (9)

P = 0.992

   Hospitalization rate

50 (8)

54 (6)

P = 0.181

   High-Frequency use of MFA (≥2)

21 (3)

427 (49)

P < 0.000

   Percentage of borrowing money for illness treatment (presence/absence)

148(24)

189(22)

P = 0.380

   Percentage of Borrowing large amount money for illness treatment (≥500 RMB)

82(13)

108(12)

P = 0.695