Table 1 Baseline demographic and socio economic information for two counties in Anhui province

Population and economic

Total population*

462,244

842,265

Reproductive age women:15–49 years (percent of total)

121,483 (26.3)

220,187 (26.1)

Average GDP (yuan)^#

11678

10265

Average income per capita (yuan)^#

5338

3926

Facilities and staff

Number of hospitals

23

44

Number of hospitals able to provide CD

11

43

Population served per hospital able to provide CD

42,022

19,588

Number of general medical doctors

360

513

Number of obstetricians

82

95

Obstetricians per 1000 women of reproductive age

0.67

0.43

Number of midwives

29

56

Midwives per 1000 women of reproductive age

0.24

0.25