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Am J Perinatol 2014; 31(08): 689-694
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1357266
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Investigating the Balance of Reporting Maternal and Infant Outcomes in Pregnancy and Childbirth Cochrane Reviews

Emily Starrick
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
,
Natalie Bath
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
,
David M. Haas
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

26 July 2013

23 August 2013

Publication Date:
09 October 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To summarize the overall conclusions of Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group (PCG) reviews where interventions have different effects on maternal and infant outcomes.

Methods PCG reviews were analyzed and primary outcomes extracted and categorized by maternal and infant outcomes. The overall conclusions were categorized depending on whether they follow the benefit or harm for one group or are inconclusive due to the discrepancy.

Results A total of 451 current PCG reviews were assessed out of which 206 were analyzed. In general, the overall conclusions of reviews followed both beneficial and harmful outcomes. Around 58 (28.2%) recommended the intervention, 60 (29.1%) discouraged the intervention, and 88 (42.7%) were inconclusive. Total 10 Reviews reported opposing maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes. Six (60%) contained inconclusive final recommendations. Three of the remaining four (75%) had a summary recommendation following the fetal/neonatal outcome. We did not detect bias based on whether the author group was obstetric or pediatric providers.

Conclusion The final author conclusions in PCG reviews generally follow the overall assessment of maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes. There were, however, a large number of inconclusive final recommendations in PCG reviews. These findings highlight the fact that many interventions represent trade-offs between maternal and fetal outcomes.

Keywords

Cochrane review - pregnancy - outcomes - systematic review

Supplementary Material

 

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