Table 1 Socioeconomic, pregnancy and birth characteristics of women in the pilot study by birth mode
| Â | Vaginal birth | Cesarean section | P |
|---|---|---|---|
Socioeconomic characteristics | |||
 Mother’s age |  |  | 0.49 |
  18–20 | 39 (21.9%) | 6 (13.0%) |  |
  21–24 | 84 (47.2%) | 23 (50.0%) |  |
  25–29 | 46 (25.8%) | 13 (28.3%) |  |
  30–36 | 9 (5.1%) | 4 (8.7%) |  |
 Years of schooling |  |  | 0.007 |
  None | 53 (29.8%) | 8 (17.4%) |  |
  Primary (1–5) | 35 (19.7%) | 4 (8.7%) |  |
  Secondary (6–12) | 87 (48.9%) | 30 (65.2%) |  |
  Higher (> 12) | 3 (1.7%) | 4 (8.7%) |  |
 Caste of woman |  |  | < 0.01 |
  Scheduled Caste/Tribe | 45 (25.3%) | 7 (15.2%) |  |
  Other Backward Caste | 125 (70.2%) | 31 (67.4%) |  |
  General Caste | 8 (4.5%) | 8 (17.4%) |  |
 Household income |  |  | 0.01 |
  0–2499 INR | 16 (9.0%) | 1 (2.2%) |  |
  2500–4999 INR | 49 (27.5%) | 5 (10.9%) |  |
  5000–9999 INR | 68 (38.2%) | 20 (43.5%) |  |
  10,000–60,000 INR | 45 (25.3%) | 20 (43.5%) |  |
 Below poverty line |  |  | 0.84 |
  No | 40 (22.5%) | 11 (23.9%) |  |
  Yes | 138 (77.5%) | 35 (76.1%) |  |
Pregnancy and birth characteristics | |||
 Previous pregnancies |  |  | 0.42 |
  None | 23 (12.9%) | 10 (21.7%) |  |
  1–2 | 125 (70.2%) | 31 (67.4%) |  |
  3–4 | 24 (13.5%) | 4 (8.7%) |  |
  5−7 | 6 (3.4%) | 1 (2.2%) |  |
 Woman reported episiotomy |  |  | < 0.001 |
  No | 58 (32.6%) | 45 (97.8%) |  |
  Yes | 120 (67.4%) | 1 (2.2%) |  |
 Risk factors for cesarean section1 |  |  | < 0.001 |
  No | 160 (89.9%) | 6 (13.0%) |  |
  Yes | 18 (10.1%) | 40 (87.0%) |  |
 Ante- or postpartum hemorrhage |  |  | 0.40 |
  No | 169 (94.9%) | 45 (97.8%) |  |
  Yes | 9 (5.1%) | 1 (2.2%) |  |
 Prolonged labor, anemia or fever |  |  | 0.72 |
  No | 151 (84.8%) | 40 (87.0%) |  |
  Yes | 27 (15.2%) | 6 (13.0%) |  |
 Baby’s health (2–3 days postpartum) |  |  | 0.43 |
  Healthy | 155 (87.1%) | 42 (91.3%) |  |
  Sick | 23 (12.9%) | 4 (8.7%) |  |
 Length of hospital stay after birth, median (IQR) | 2.0 (1.0, 2.0) | 3.0 (3.0, 5.0) | < 0.001 |
 Length of hospital stay |  |  | < 0.001 |
  Below median duration for birth mode | 81 (45.5%) | 7 (15.2%) |  |
  Of median duration for birth mode | 81 (45.5%) | 23 (50.0%) |  |
  Above median duration for birth mode | 16 (9.0%) | 16 (34.8%) |  |
 Birth place |  |  | 0.02 |
  Community health center | 55 (30.9%) | 6 (13.0%) |  |
  District hospital | 39 (21.9%) | 8 (17.4%) |  |
  Private hospital | 84 (47.2%) | 32 (69.6%) |  |
N | 178 | 46 | Â |