Table 1 Baseline assessment methods and sample size

Postpartum interviews

Women who gave birth at the facility were interviewed about their care experience at their time of discharge, approximately three to six hours post-delivery. Every second woman entering the postnatal ward was systematically sampled for inclusion.

2000

Direct observation

Trained nurse-midwives conducted observations of patient-provider interactions throughout a woman’s stay at the facility, from admission to 2 h postpartum. Observation was stopped if the woman was transferred to the operating theatre for a Caesarean section. Women presenting at the registration desk for delivery were systematically sampled for inclusion. 100 women were both directly observed and interviewed in the postpartum interview.

208

Community follow-up interviews

Attempts were made to follow-up with all 100 women who were both observed during labor and delivery and interviewed postpartum. 70 were contacted and agreed to participate. Interviews were conducted in women’s homes four to six weeks after delivery.

70

Structured provider interviews

All providers and administrators working in the maternity block at the study facility were interviewed about their job satisfaction and perceptions of quality of care.

50

In-depth provider interviews

Providers working in the maternity block and hospital and municipal administrators completed semi-structured in-depth interviews.

18