Comparison 4. Any planned birth versus expectant management (subgroup analysis by antibiotic use).

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Neonatal infection	12	3625	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.66, 1.30]
1.1 Prophylactic antibiotics used	2	1702	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.42, 1.31]
1.2 Prophylactic antibiotics not used	8	880	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.42 [0.81, 2.51]
1.3 Some prophylactic antibiotics used	2	736	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.30, 1.46]
1.4 Not specified	1	307	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.25, 2.55]
2 Neonatal infection confirmed with positive culture	7	2925	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.24 [0.70, 2.21]
2.1 Prophylactic antibiotics used	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.16 [0.01, 2.99]
2.2 Prophylactic antibiotics not used	3	234	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.63 [0.62, 4.28]
2.3 Some prophylactic antibiotics used	3	2571	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.35 [0.62, 2.93]
3 Respiratory distress syndrome	12	3622	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.29 [1.06, 1.56]
3.1 Prophylactic antibiotics used	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.11 [0.23, 5.26]
3.2 Prophylactic antibiotics not used	7	630	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.11 [0.85, 1.45]
3.3 Some prophylactic antibiotics used	3	2565	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.48 [1.10, 1.99]
3.4 Not specified	1	307	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.27 [0.55, 2.94]
4 Caesarean section	12	3620	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.30 [1.14, 1.49]
4.1 Prophylactic antibiotics used	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.47 [0.34, 6.30]
4.2 Prophylactic antibiotics not used	7	628	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.43 [1.08, 1.90]
4.3 Some prophylactic antibiotics used	3	2565	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.31 [1.12, 1.53]
4.4 Not specified	1	307	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.91 [0.51, 1.61]
5 Chorioamnionitis	8	1358	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.50 [0.26, 0.95]
5.1 Prophylactic antibiotics used	1	120	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.11 [0.01, 0.84]
5.2 Prophylactic antibiotics not used	5	511	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.34, 1.41]
5.3 Some prophylactic antibiotics used	2	727	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.35 [0.15, 0.86]
6 Endometritis	7	2980	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.61 [1.00, 2.59]
6.1 Prophylactic antibiotics used	0	0	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
6.2 Prophylactic antibiotics not used	4	418	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.23 [1.29, 3.84]
6.3 Some prophylactic antibiotics used	3	2562	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.37 [0.10, 1.40]