Figure 4.

Meta-analysis of four RCTs from middle-income countries comparing administration of antenatal steroids for preterm labour with placebo: (a) effect size on preterm cause-specific mortality outcome [total events = 142; heterogeneity χ² = 0.08 (d.f. = 3); P = 0.994; test of RR = 1; z = 4.87; P = 0.000; fixed effect meta-analysis]; and (b) effect size on RDS (severe morbidity outcome) [total events = 185; heterogeneity χ² = 13.40 (d.f. = 3); P = 0.004; test of RR = 1; z = 3.58; P = 0.000; random effects meta-analysis]