Antenatal village stay and pregnancy outcome in rural Zimbabwe

DESIGN--Comparative study of pregnancy outcome for parturients who had stayed in an antenatal village and for those admitted directly from the community. SETTING--A rural hospital in Zimbabwe. OUTCOME MEASURES--Birthweight, perinatal mortality and degree of obstetrical intervention. RESULTS--Women who stayed in the antenatal village experienced better pregnancy outcome than women admitted directly from the community. Birthweight was greater, perinatal mortality lower, and obstetrical intervention less often required in the antenatal village group. CONCLUSIONS--Lack of randomisation, differences between the two groups in antenatal risk factors, and lack of information relating to socio-economic status suggest that generalisations beyond the specific case be made cautiously.