Implementation of antepartum preterm birth interventions: A scoping review

While antenatal recommendations regarding preterm birth are essential to preventing neonatal morbidity and mortality, implementation of these recommendations underscore how health system capacity and systemic factors, such as access and quality, greatly influence their utilization. To date, there is limited synthesis focused on the implementation of antenatal preterm birth interventions. Our objectives were to focus on implementation science studies intended to 1) increase referral mechanisms of pregnant people to higher levels of care where the management of preterm labor or delivery is possible and 2) map the implementation of preterm birth interventions, including the administration of antenatal corticosteroids, magnesium sulfate, and antibiotics. We conducted a scoping review using key terms in online databases to identify implementation science strategies focused on referral mechanisms and preterm birth interventions. Studies were selected based on the strength of existing literature. Quality assessment was conducted with the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT). To evaluate study intervention strategies, we used the RE-AIM framework - a comprehensive evaluative framework composed of 5 dimensions: reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Of the 1178 articles that were screened, 18 were evaluated, and 13 included in this review. The studies were conducted in 12 countries, the majority of which were lower to lower-middle income countries. Designs ranged from quantitative non-randomized studies to qualitative and mixed methods. By using the RE-AIM framework, we found that there was heterogeneity among the studies with regards to whether they addressed reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, or maintenance. Common interventions for referring pregnant women to higher levels of care included the use of skilled birth attendants, referral systems, financial incentives, quality of emergency obstetric care, and community health workers. Implementation studies on preterm birth interventions with corticosteroids or magnesium sulfate focused on increasing awareness and knowledge of evidence-based practices using care bundles, online or in person training sessions, focus groups, interviews, and surveys. Overall, we identified how implementation studies increased the use of antenatal corticosteroids and magnesium sulfate and also identified how community health workers, skilled birth attendants, and referral systems can reduce complications from preterm birth. With further review of implementation science research, implementation science can be used to further understand and integrate evidence based-knowledge into practice in a consistent and reproducible matter.