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Search review questions
Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
3,601 questions in 252 reviews · Pregnancy and Childbirth
current versionsNo studies 726 · 20.2%Ungraded 421 · 11.7%Very low 828 · 23%Low 993 · 27.6%Moderate 486 · 13.5%High 147 · 4.1%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Early discharge vs standard discharge Costs of postnatal care following discharge from hospital in the period up to 6 weeks after the birth · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 1011 participants | Low |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Infant mortality within 1 year · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.45 [0.07, 2.77] | 3 studies · 4984 participants | Low |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Number of infants having contact with healthcare professionals regarding infant health issues within 4 weeks of birth · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.88 [0.67, 1.16] | 3 studies · 639 participants | Moderate |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Women readmitted within 6 weeks · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.12 [0.82, 1.54] | 11 studies · 6992 participants | Moderate |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Maternal mortality within 6 weeks ‐ not reported · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Women probably depressed within 6 months · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.8 [0.46, 1.42] | 5 studies · 4333 participants | Low |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Women breastfeeding (exclusively or partially) at 6 weeks postpartum · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.04 [0.96, 1.13] | 10 studies · 7156 participants | Moderate |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Number of women having contact with healthcare professionals regarding maternal health issues within 6 weeks of giving birth · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.72 [0.43, 1.2] | 2 studies · 464 participants | Moderate |
Early discharge vs standard discharge Costs of hospital care in the period immediately following the birth up to the time of discharge · healthy mothers and term infants Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 1011 participants | Low |
Any type of forceps vs any type of vacuum cup Failed delivery with allocated instrument (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.58 [0.39, 0.88] | 11 studies · 3080 participants | Low |
Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup Any neonatal injury (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.05 [0.55, 2] | 2 studies · 218 participants | Very low |
Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup Postpartum haemorrhage · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup Low Apgar score at 5 minutes (< 7 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 118 participants | Ungraded |
Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup Low umbilical artery pH (< 7.20 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Soft cup vs rigid cup Failed delivery with allocated instrument (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.62 [1.21, 2.17] | 9 studies · 1148 participants | Low |
Soft cup vs rigid cup Any maternal trauma (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | OR 0.63 [0.24, 1.67] | 2 studies · 348 participants | Low |
Soft cup vs rigid cup Any neonatal injury (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Soft cup vs rigid cup Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.93 [0.35, 2.44] | 4 studies · 619 participants | Low |
Soft cup vs rigid cup Postpartum haemorrhage (≥ 500 mL or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.89 [0.49, 1.61] | 5 studies · 737 participants | Moderate |
Any type of forceps vs any type of vacuum cup Any maternal trauma (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | OR 1.53 [0.98, 2.4] | 5 studies · 1356 participants | Low |
Soft cup vs rigid cup Low Apgar score at 5 minutes (less than 7 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.82 [0.49, 1.37] | 9 studies · 1148 participants | Low |
Soft cup vs rigid cup Low umbilical artery pH (< 7.2 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.8 [0.47, 1.36] | 1 study · 100 participants | Low |
Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup Failed delivery with allocated instrument (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.35 [0.81, 2.25] | 4 studies · 962 participants | Low |
Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup Any maternal trauma (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | OR 1.16 [0.71, 1.88] | 2 studies · 394 participants | Low |
Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup Any neonatal injury (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.15 [0.62, 2.12] | 4 studies · 962 participants | Moderate |
Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup Postpartum haemorrhage (≥ 500 mL) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.31 [0.03, 2.92] | 1 study · 164 participants | Low |
Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup Low Apgar score at 5 minutes (< 7 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.25 [0.34, 4.61] | 3 studies · 784 participants | Low |
Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup Low umbilical artery pH (< 7.2 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.06 [0.71, 1.59] | 1 study · 164 participants | Low |
Any type of forceps vs any type of vacuum cup Any neonatal injury (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Any type of forceps vs any type of vacuum cup Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.83 [1.32, 2.55] | 9 studies · 2493 participants | Low |
Any type of forceps vs any type of vacuum cup Postpartum haemorrhage (≥ 500 mL) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.71 [0.59, 4.95] | 2 studies · 523 participants | Low |
Any type of forceps vs any type of vacuum cup Low Apgar score at 5 minutes (< 7 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.83 [0.46, 1.51] | 7 studies · 1644 participants | Moderate |
Any type of forceps vs any type of vacuum cup Low umbilical artery pH (< 7.2 or as defined by trial authors) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.33 [0.91, 1.93] | 2 studies · 789 participants | Low |
Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup Failed delivery with allocated instrument (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.26 [0.09, 0.76] | 2 studies · 218 participants | Very low |
Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup Any maternal trauma (primary) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth Instruments for assisted vaginal birth (2021) · Cochrane | OR 7.44 [0.37, 147.92] | 1 study · 100 participants | Very low |
Antihelminthics vs control Maternal anaemia in third trimester (< 11 g/dL) · pregnant women in second trimester of pregnancy Effect of mass deworming with antihelminthics for soil‐transmitted helminths during pregnancy (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.85 [0.72, 1] | 5 studies · 5745 participants | Low |
Antihelminthics vs control Preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of gestation) · pregnant women in second trimester of pregnancy Effect of mass deworming with antihelminthics for soil‐transmitted helminths during pregnancy (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.84 [0.38, 1.86] | 1 study · 1042 participants | Low |
Antihelminthics vs control Perinatal mortality · pregnant women in second trimester of pregnancy Effect of mass deworming with antihelminthics for soil‐transmitted helminths during pregnancy (2021) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.67, 1.52] | 3 studies · 3356 participants | Low |
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) vs usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and neonatal outcomes Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.34 [0.07, 1.65] | 1 study · 942 participants | Low |
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) vs usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and neonatal outcomes Transient tachypnoea of the neonate (TTN) · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.52 [0.25, 1.11] | 1 study · 942 participants | Low |
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) vs usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and neonatal outcomes Admission to neonatal special care (all levels) for respiratory morbidity · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.45 [0.22, 0.9] | 1 study · 942 participants | Moderate |
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) vs usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and neonatal outcomes Need for mechanical ventilation · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes (2021) · Cochrane | RR 4.07 [0.46, 36.27] | 1 study · 942 participants | Very low |
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) vs usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and neonatal outcomes Neonatal hypoglycaemia · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) vs usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and neonatal outcomes Maternal mortality and severe morbidity · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Effect of antenatal corticosteroids (betamethasone) vs usual care prior to planned caesarean at term on maternal and neonatal outcomes Maternal development of postpartum infection/pyrexia in the first 72 hours · women undergoing planned elective caesarean section at 37 weeks' gestation and beyond for singleton pregnancy Antenatal corticosteroids prior to planned caesarean at term for improving neonatal outcomes (2021) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 942 participants | Very low |
5‐HT3 antagonists vs placebo Nausea ‐ intraoperative · women undergoing regional anaesthesia for caesarean section Interventions for preventing nausea and vomiting in women undergoing regional anaesthesia for caesarean… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.55 [0.42, 0.71] | 12 studies · 1419 participants | Low |
Corticosteroids vs placebo Vomiting ‐ intraoperative · women undergoing regional anaesthesia for caesarean section Interventions for preventing nausea and vomiting in women undergoing regional anaesthesia for caesarean… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.52 [0.31, 0.87] | 6 studies · 609 participants | Very low |
Corticosteroids vs placebo Nausea ‐ postoperative · women undergoing regional anaesthesia for caesarean section Interventions for preventing nausea and vomiting in women undergoing regional anaesthesia for caesarean… (2021) · Cochrane | RR 0.59 [0.49, 0.73] | 6 studies · 733 participants | Moderate |