Three-year average (2011-13). The data for most countries are based on a minimum threshold of 22 weeks of gestation period (or 500 grams birthweight) to remove the impact of different registration practices of extremely premature babies across countries. Looking at the numbers of beds per capita across these two groups of regions, the former (with relatively low hospitalisation rates) has a lower number of beds per capita on average, and the latter, very high numbers of beds per capita. Shortages of medical personnel in rural areas, poor transportation services, and lengthy travel times to health care facilities are also likely to undermine access to services in remote areas across the country (WHO, 2011).