Chapman, Anna, Nagle, Cate, Bick, Debra, Lindberg, Rebecca, Kent, Bridie, Calache, Justin and Hutchinson, Alison M. (2019) Maternity service organisational interventions that aim to reduce caesarean section : a systematic review and meta-analyses. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 19 (1). 206. doi:10.1186/s12884-019-2351-2

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Abstract

Background
Caesarean sections (CSs) are associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity, yet rates continue to increase within most countries. Effective interventions are required to reduce the number of non-medically indicated CSs and improve outcomes for women and infants. This paper reports findings of a systematic review of literature related to maternity service organisational interventions that have a primary intention of improving CS rates.

Method
A three-phase search strategy was implemented to identify studies utilising organisational interventions to improve CS rates in maternity services. The database search (including Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Maternity and Infant Care, EMBASE and SCOPUS) was restricted to peer-reviewed journal articles published from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2017. Reference lists of relevant reviews and included studies were also searched. Primary outcomes were overall, planned, and unplanned CS rates. Secondary outcomes included a suite of birth outcomes. A series of meta-analyses were performed in RevMan, separated by type of organisational intervention and outcome of interest. Summary risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals were presented as the effect measure. Effect sizes were pooled using a random-effects model.

Results
Fifteen articles were included in the systematic review, nine of which were included in at least one meta-analysis. Results indicated that, compared with women allocated to usual care, women allocated to midwife-led models of care implemented across pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postnatal period were, on average, less likely to experience CS (overall) (average RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.96), planned CS (average RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.93), and episiotomy (average RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.95). Narratively, audit and feedback, and a hospital policy of mandatory second opinion for CS, were identified as interventions that have potential to reduce CS rates.

Conclusion
Maternity service leaders should consider the adoption of midwife-led models of care across the maternity episode within their organisations, particularly for women classified as low-risk. Additional studies are required that utilise either audit and feedback, or a hospital policy of mandatory second opinion for CS, to facilitate the quantification of intervention effects within future reviews.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Maternal health services, Cesarean section, Cesarean section -- Prevention
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1471-2393
Official Date:	9 July 2019
Dates:	Date Event 9 July 2019 Published 4 June 2019 Accepted
Volume:	19
Number:	1
Article Number:	206
DOI:	10.1186/s12884-019-2351-2
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access

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