More about the PCG

superlambOur aims and responsibilities

  • To establish and maintain a comprehensive database of all published, unpublished, ongoing and planned randomised controlled trials in which the compared interventions were used during pregnancy or within 28 days of delivery, and where allocation was either random or by some quasi-random method.
  • To carry out searches for all relevant published and unpublished randomised controlled trials using various methods including electronic searching, handsearching of journals and conference proceedings, checking bibliographies or published articles and through contact with trialists.
  • To prepare and maintain high quality systematic reviews for worldwide dissemination, using the stringent guidelines laid down in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.
  • To update periodically, as new evidence becomes available.


Scope

Randomised controlled trials and controlled clinical trials of interventions involving the mother or baby during and after pregnancy and childbirth (including lactation) with the following exceptions.
(1) The Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group are responsible for ectopic pregnancy.
(2) The Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group are responsible for termination of pregnancy.
(3) The Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group are responsible for the following sub-topics in the area of 'Unhappiness after childbirth': drug treatment and psychotherapy.
(4) The Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group are responsible for drug misuse in pregnancy.
(5) The Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group are responsible for the 'Education for contraception use by women after childbirth' review.
(6) The Cochrane Developmental Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group are responsible for the' Home based maternal support' review.
(7) The Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group are responsible for reviews of malaria in pregnant women.
(8) The Cochrane Epilepsy Group are responsible for reviews about epilepsy in pregnancy.
(9) The Cochrane Gynaecological Neuro-oncology and Orphan Cancer Group are responsible for cervical smears during pregnancy.
(10) The Cochrane Skin Group are responsible for therapeutic approaches to pregnant systemic lupus erythema patients.
(11) The Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group are responsible for the reviews about interventions aimed at decreasing the risk of mother-to-child transmission HIV infection.
(12) The Cochrane Anaesthesia, Critical, and Emergency Care Group are responsible for the following reviews: 'Techniques for maintaining epidural analgesia in labour' and 'Prophylactic blood patch for dural puncture'.