Table 2 Taxonomy of Experimental Antenatal Interventions tested within an RCT

Universal provision model – no restrictions on eligibility

Clustered community-focussed models

TBAs; skilled birth attendants (midwives, nurses, physicians, ‘lady health workers’ etc.), health committees; community workers; health facilitators/educators/trainers; volunteers

Task-based; participatory women’s groups; learning and action cycle; mostly group-based within community settings;

Lack of continuity of carer

Home; community setting; health centre; commune

Reduced/flexible visits

Midwives, GPs (general practitioners/family physicians), obstetricians

Task-based; individual focus; lack of continuity

Hospital; urban community; clinic

Hospital-based group models

Midwives

Antenatal clinic

Midwifery-led models (some allowed mixed risk)

Midwives; obstetric nurses; rural practice team

Midwifery-led; Continuity of care/carer; sometimes task-based.

Antenatal clinic; teaching hospital, rural clinic

Restricted ‘lower risk’-based model – eligibility limited to (‘low risk’ women)

Midwifery-led models

Midwives, with medical support as required

Midwife-led; Woman-centred; Continuity of care/carer

Home/community setting and/or hospital/institutional setting; birth centre.

Reduced/flexible visits

Midwives, obstetricians, GPs (general practitioners/family physicians); OB-GYNs (obstetrician-gynecologists); certified nurse-midwives.

Task-based; individual focus; lack of continuity; some flexibility.

Hospital clinic; GP surgery; birth centre.

Augmented provision model – no restrictions on eligibility but with additional care given

Supplementary antenatal care or educational input

Psychotherapists; health care professionals (physicians; nurses; midwives); home visitors; community health workers; nurse-midwives

Group or individual focus; structured health education; continuity of care; family-focussed; case-note holding

Health centre; clinic; hospital; home

Behavioural or lifestyle intervention, including effect of exercise on gestational weight gain, pregnancy outcomes, breast feeding, relaxation etc.

Dieticians; fitness instructors; obstetricians; ‘interventionist’ physiotherapists; midwives

Individual counselling; exercise training; dietary advice, weight management; hypnosis; task-based

Clinic; community; hospital; home

Targeted ‘higher risk’-based model - for specific groups

Specific care for women with identified Clinical/Psychosocial/Socio-demographic risk factors:

Physicians and/or midwives/nurses

Task-based or woman-centred

Continuity of care/carer or no continuity

Hospital/institutional setting