Table 2 Summary of characteristics of included intervention studies

Setting

    High-income countries

7 (41.2%)

[37, 38, 41,42,43, 71]

    Upper middle-income countries

10 (58.8%)

[39, 40, 44,45,46,47,48,49, 60, 68, 69]

Data collection period

    < 2000

2 (11.8%)

[38, 42]

    2000–2010

4 (23.5%)

[37, 43, 70, 71]

     > 2010*

8 (47.0%)

[39, 41, 44,45,46,47,48,49]

    Unclear/NI

3 (17.7%)

[40, 68, 69]

Study design

    Randomized controlled trial

13 (76.5%)

[37,38,39,40,41,42,43, 49, 60, 66, 68, 69, 71]

    Before and after

3 (17.7%)

[44, 45, 47]

    Interrupted time series

1 (5.9%)

[46]

Sample size

    < 100

2 (11.8%)

[40, 68]

    100–1000

8 (47.0%)

[37, 39, 41,42,43, 69,70,71]

     > 1000

7 (41.2%)

[38, 44,45,46,47,48,49]

Type of women

    Women with low-risk pregnancy

9 (52.9%)

[39, 44,45,46,47, 49, 68, 69, 71]

    Women with fear of childbirth

5 (29.4%)

[37, 40,41,42, 70]

   Women with previous CS

3 (17.7%)

[38, 43, 48]

    Baseline CS rate

    < 30%

2 (11.8%)

[37, 43]

    30–40%

0 (0%)

-

    > 40%

10 (58.8%)

[39, 40, 44,45,46,47, 49, 66, 68, 69]

    Unclear/NI

5 (29.4%)

[38, 41, 42, 70, 71]

Outcomes

    Successful interventions

10 (58.8%)

[37, 44,45,46,47,48, 68,69,70,71]

    Unsuccessful interventions

7 (41.2%)

[38,39,40,41,42,43, 49]