RHL Commentary by Guillermo Carroli, Marina Duarte
EVIDENCE SUMMARY
This review includes eight trials involving 3600 women. Although there was no evidence in the trials for any adverse outcomes associated with early postnatal discharge of healthy mothers who have given birth to term infants, the methodological limitations of the trials rendered the findings inconclusive.
In terms of the effects of early discharge on re-admissions to hospital of both mothers and infants, maternal depression and breastfeeding prevalence, the review found no differences between those given early discharge from hospital and those not. But owing to the methodological variations among trials, it was difficult to draw conclusions about women’s view of postnatal care. Finally, with respect to the economic impact of early discharge, only one trial provided relevant information about costs. Although the results are inconclusive, the trials indicate that early discharge costs less even when the costs of follow-up nurse/midwife home visits are included.
All adequately randomized controlled trials that could be identified have been included. The study outcomes selected for the review were complete and adequate. The reviewers included outcomes relevant for low- middle- and high-income countries, such as health outcomes for the infant and parents' satisfaction with care and costs. Sub-group analyses were appropriately planned beforehand, reducing the probability of bias. The data are appropriately extracted and presented in graphs and in text.
The full RHL commentary also includes sections on: Relevance
- Magnitude of the problem
- Applicability of the results
- Implementation of the intervention
Research
This document should be cited as: Guillermo Carroli, Marina Duarte. Early postnatal discharge from hospital for healthy mothers and term infants: RHL commentary (last revised: 28 October 2003). The WHO Reproductive Health Library, No 9, Update Software Ltd, Oxford, 2006. www.rhlibrary.com
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