Comparison 7. Continuous support versus usual care ‐ country income level.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Spontaneous vaginal birth	21	14369	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.08 [1.04, 1.12]
1.1 High‐income country	10	11284	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.07 [1.02, 1.12]
1.2 Middle‐income country	11	3085	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.11 [1.03, 1.20]
2 Negative rating of/negative feelings about birth experience	11	11133	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.59, 0.79]
2.1 High‐income country	6	9021	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.60, 0.93]
2.2 Middle‐income country	5	2112	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.63 [0.52, 0.76]
3 Postpartum depression	2		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 High‐income country	1	5567	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.73, 1.02]
3.2 Middle‐income country	1	149	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.18 [0.09, 0.36]
4 Admission to special care nursery	7	8897	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.76, 1.25]
4.1 High‐income country	3	7740	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.84, 1.11]
4.2 Middle‐income country	4	1157	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.80 [0.25, 2.56]
5 Exclusive or any breastfeeding at any time point, as defined by trial authors	4		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
5.1 High‐income country	2	4780	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.83, 1.43]
5.2 Middle‐income country	2	804	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.05 [0.98, 1.13]
6 Any analgesia/anaesthesia	15	12433	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.84, 0.96]
6.1 High‐income country	8	10145	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.81, 0.97]
6.2 Middle‐income country	7	2288	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.84, 1.04]
7 Synthetic oxytocin during labour	17	12833	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.91, 1.03]
7.1 High‐income country	6	9907	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.87, 1.08]
7.2 Middle‐income country	11	2926	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.81, 1.05]
8 Caesarean birth	24	15347	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.75 [0.64, 0.88]
8.1 High‐income country	12	11738	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.77, 1.02]
8.2 Middle‐income country	12	3609	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.62 [0.46, 0.84]