Improving birth preparedness and complication readiness in rural India through an integrated microfinance and health literacy programme: evidence from a quasi-experimental study.

The results suggest that SHG membership exerts a positive impact on planned health behaviour and a diffusion effect of BPCR practice from members to non-members when SHGs are enriched with a health literacy component. The study provides evidence to guide the implementation of community health programmes seeking to promote BPCR practise in low resource settings.