Randomized clinical trials in perinatology in Latin America

Latin America needs means to obtain accurate figures about its health conditions in order to apply its resources to priority areas. In addition, health actions must be carefully evaluated to assess their impact, operation and costs. The randomized clinical trial (RCT) is the only design able to show the effectiveness of interventions of moderate effect. Also, it gives appropriate information about the expected effect of the interventions and implies an expediate implementation of interventions in the same places where the project has been performed. In a review of RCTs performed in Latin America on perinatal medicine it can be concluded that some of the focus of research is irrelevant to the region and there is not an orientation towards the cooperative solution of predominant problems in the area. It is imperative for researchers, in Latin America to initiate joint activities in order to assess which are the research priorities of the area, to focus their research on these priorities and to join their efforts in collaborative studies.