Table 1 Definition of outcomes

Neonatal mortality rate

Deaths during the first 28 days of life/1000 livebirths

Mortality rate on day 1

Deaths on day 1 of life/1000 livebirths

Early neonatal mortality rate

Deaths on day 1-7 of life/1000 livebirths

Late neonatal mortality rate

Deaths on day 8-28 of life/1000 livebirths

Stillbirth rate

Stillbirths/1000 births

≥3 ANC

Mothers who had at least three antenatal care check-ups (all women who gave birth)

Birth plan

Mothers who made a plan for all of the following: place of delivery, delivery attendant, money, transport, safe delivery kit (all women who gave birth)

Care for problem in pregnancy

Mothers who sought care from a skilled attendant (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) or doctor) for a problem during their pregnancy (all women who had a health problem during pregnancy)

Maternity vehicle (mamta vahan)^a

Mothers who used a maternity vehicle for transport during delivery (all women who had an institutional birth)

Institutional birth

Mothers who gave birth at a health care facility (private/public) (all women who gave birth)

JSY cash incentive

Mothers who received money from the Janani Suraksha Yojani (JSY)-scheme (all women who had an institutional birth). The JSY cash transfer scheme is an intervention set up by the National Health Mission of the Indian Government. The scheme aims to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality by providing cash incentives for marginalised mothers who have an institutional birth [20].

Postnatal care for the mother

Mothers who received postnatal care for themselves by a skilled attendant (ANM, doctor, nurse) within six weeks after delivery (all women who gave birth)

Care for neonatal problems

Mothers who sought care from an ANM, Anganwadi Worker (AWW), Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) (community health worker) or a doctor for a health problem of their baby (all infants who had a health problem in the neonatal period)

Women’s group meeting attendance

Mothers who attended at least one participatory women’s group meeting (all women who gave birth). The women’s group meetings were organized as a participatory learning and action intervention, facilitated by ASHAs [18]. The women’s groups met every month under the guidance of the facilitator. In a cycle of meetings, they identified and prioritized maternal and newborn health problems, identified and planned strategies to address these problems, then implemented these strategies with the support of the community, and then evaluated their strategies.

Accompanied by an ASHA

Mothers who were accompanied to a health care facility for their delivery by an ASHA (all women who gave birth)

Any ASHA visit

Mothers who received at least one postnatal ASHA-visit within the first week after delivery (all women who gave birth)

≥3 ASHA visits

Mothers who received at least three ASHA visits within the first week after delivery as recommended by the Home-Based Newborn Care of the Rural Health Mission [21] (all women who gave birth)

Support from an ASHA

Mothers who received support during their pregnancy, delivery and/or postnatal period from an ASHA (all women who gave birth)