Comparison 2. Alternative versus conventional birth settings ‐ same or separate staff.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Spontaneous vaginal birth	8	11202	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [1.01, 1.05]
1.1 Separate staff in birth centre	5	8293	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.03 [1.01, 1.06]
1.2 Same staff in both settings	3	2909	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.04 [0.99, 1.08]
2 Serious perinatal morbidity or mortality	5	6385	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.17 [0.51, 2.67]
2.1 Separate staff in birth centre	2	3472	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.51 [0.31, 7.43]
2.2 Same staff in both settings	3	2913	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.86 [0.50, 1.48]
3 Serious maternal morbidity or mortality	4	6334	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.11 [0.23, 5.36]
3.1 Separate staff in birth centre	2	3472	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.00 [0.16, 6.15]
3.2 Same staff in both settings	2	2862	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.50 [0.06, 36.88]
4 Very positive views of intrapartum care	2	1207	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.96 [1.78, 2.15]
4.1 Separate staff in birth centre	1	1148	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.95 [1.77, 2.14]
4.2 Same staff in both settings	1	59	Risk Ratio (IV, Fixed, 95% CI)	2.66 [1.31, 5.40]