Effect of population-based antenatal screening and treatment of genitourinary tract infections on birth outcomes in Sylhet, Bangladesh (MIST): a cluster-randomised clinical trial

Publication date: January 2019Source: The Lancet Global Health, Volume 7, Issue 1Author(s): Anne CC Lee, Luke C Mullany, Mohammad Quaiyum, Dipak K Mitra, Alain Labrique, Parul Christian, Parvez Ahmed, Jamal Uddin, Iftekhar Rafiqullah, Sushil DasGupta, Mahmoodur Rahman, Emilia H Koumans, Salahuddin Ahmed, Samir K Saha, Abdullah H Baqui, Projahnmo Study Group in BangladeshSummaryBackgroundOne-third of preterm births are attributed to pregnancy infections. We implemented a community-based intervention to screen and treat maternal genitourinary tract infections, with the aim of reducing the incidence of preterm birth.MethodsWe did an unblinded cluster-randomised controlled trial in two subdistricts of Sylhet, Bangladesh. Clusters were defined as the contiguous area served by a single community health worker, and each cluster comprised several contiguous villages, contained roughly 4000 people, and had about 120 births per year. Eligible participants within clusters were all ever-married women and girls of reproductive age (ie, aged 15–49 years) who became pregnant during the study period. Clusters were randomly assigned (1:1) to the intervention or control groups via a restricted randomisation procedure. In both groups, community health workers made home visits to identify pregnant women and girls and provide antenatal and postnatal care. Between 13 and 19 weeks' gestation, participants in the intervention group received home-based screening for abnormal vaginal flora and urina...
Source: The Lancet Global Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research