Antenatal education for self-diagnosis of the onset of active labour at term (Cochrane Review)

A substantive amendment to this systematic review was last made on 19 April 1998. Cochrane reviews are regularly checked and updated if necessary.

Background: A specific program designed to teach women to recognise active labour may be beneficial through potentially decreasing the incidence of early admission to hospital, increasing women's confidence, feelings of control and empowerment, and decreasing their anxiety.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of teaching pregnant women specific criteria for self-diagnosis of active labour onset in term pregnancy.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (May 2001) and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Issue 2, 2001).

Selection criteria: Randomised trials comparing a structured antenatal education intervention for the identification of symptoms for self-diagnosis of active labour with usual care.

Data collection and analysis: Trial quality was assessed.

Main results: One study involving 245 women was included. Method of randomisation was unclear and 15% of the sample was lost to follow-up in this trial. A specific antenatal education program was associated with a reduction in the mean number of visits to the labour suite before the onset of labour (weighted mean difference -0.29, 95% confidence interval -0.47, -0.11). It is unclear whether this resulted in fewer women being sent home because they were not in labour.

Reviewers' conclusions: There is not enough evidence to evaluate the use of a specific set of criteria for self-diagnosis of active labour.

Citation: Lauzon L, Hodnett E. Antenatal education for self-diagnosis of the onset of active labour at term (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2003. Oxford: Update Software.

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This is an abstract of a regularly updated, systematic review prepared and maintained by the Cochrane Collaboration. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).

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