title: Models of antenatal care to reduce and prevent preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of models of antenatal care designed to prevent and reduce preterm birth (PTB) in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a search of seven electronic databases and reference lists of retrieved studies to identify trials from inception up to July 2014 where pregnant women, regardless of risk factors for pregnancy complications, were randomly allocated to receive an alternative model of antenatal care or routine care. We pooled risks of PTB to determine the effect of alternative care models in all pregnant women. We also assessed secondary maternal and infant outcomes, women's satisfaction and economic outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15 trials involving 22,437 women were included. Pregnant women in alternative care models were less likely to experience PTB (risk ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.96). The subgroup of women randomised to midwife-led continuity models of antenatal care were less likely to experience PTB (0.78, 0.66 to 0.91) but there was no significant difference between this group and women allocated to specialised care (0.92, 0.76 to 1.12) (interaction test for subgroup differences p=0.20). Overall low-risk women in alternative care models were less likely to have PTB (0.74, 0.59 to 0.93), but this effect was not significantly different from that in mixed-risk populations (0.91, 0.79 to 1.05) (subgroup p=0.13).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alternative models of antenatal care for all pregnant women are effective in reducing PTB compared with routine care, but no firm conclusions could be drawn regarding the relative benefits of the two models. Future research should evaluate the impact of antenatal care models which include more recent interventions and predictive tests, and which also offer continuity of care by midwives throughout pregnancy.
  CRD42014007116.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, UK.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernandez Turienzo
authors.affiliation: Division of Women's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, Women's Health Academic Centre, St Thomas' Hospital,, London, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sandall
authors.affiliation: Division of Health and Social Care Research, Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peacock
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*
keywords: OBSTETRICS; PUBLIC HEALTH