| Methods |
4‐arm controlled randomised trial |
| Participants |
200 women were randomised in a hospital setting in India. The population comprised women of any parity, a singleton pregnancy, at both high and low risk for PPH, who delivered by vaginal delivery. Exclusion criteria comprised women with medical disorders like pregnancy‐induced hypertension, cardiac disease, sensitivity to prostaglandins, and history of previous caesarean section. |
| Interventions |
800 mcg of misoprostol administered rectally versus 200 mcg of ergometrine administered IM versus 125 mcg of carboprost administered IM versus no treatment |
| Outcomes |
The study recorded the following outcomes: additional uterotonics; transfusion; manual removal of placenta; death; blood loss (mL); change in Hb; third stage duration (minutes); diarrhoea; nausea; vomiting; fever; shivering; abdominal pain. |
| Notes |
Contact with study authors for additional information: no. Additional data from authors: no |
| Risk of bias |
| Bias |
Authors' judgement |
Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) |
Low risk |
Randomisation was carried out by using a randomisation table. |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) |
Unclear risk |
Allocation concealment was not reported. |
| Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Blinding (of study participants and caregivers) was unclear. |
| Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
Assessor blinding was not reported. |
| Objective assessment of blood loss |
Low risk |
The blood and blood clots in the kidney tray were weighed. A plastic pouch was placed under the buttocks prior to the delivery. The blood lost was collected in this pouch. After the delivery of the placenta, the content of the pouch was transferred to a graduated jar. |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias)
All outcomes |
Unclear risk |
The study authors did not mention any incomplete outcome data. |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) |
Unclear risk |
The protocol of the study was unavailable for verification. |
| Intention to treat analysis |
Unclear risk |
The authors did not specify whether all those who were enrolled and randomly allocated to treatment were included in the analysis, in the groups to which they were randomised. |
| Funding source |
Low risk |
Funding was not required. |
