Randomized controlled trial of antenatal social support to prevent preterm birth.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of a programme of additional antenatal social support on the occurrence of preterm birth (a birth from 20 to 36 weeks gestation) in women at risk of preterm birth. DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled trial. The design was one of randomization before consent for a new treatment. SETTING: Three public hospital antenatal clinics in Perth and the offices of 87 obstetricians and general practitioners in Western Australia. SUBJECTS: 1970 pregnant women with poor obstetric histories entered the trial; 983 of these were randomly allocated to the programme group and 987 to the control group. INTERVENTIONS: Normal antenatal care was provided for both groups. In ad..