Audit of antenatal corticosteroid treatment in the South West

A multidistrict audit was conducted in seven hospitals to examine the proportion of preterm births in which antenatal corticosteroids were given. Of the 550 births examined, corticosteroids had been given in 301(64%), ranging from 49–76% in different hospitals. Mothers of extremely premature babies were less likely to have been given steroids (OR 0.45 95%CI 0.28–1.03). Complications occurred in 36% of babies whose mothers did not receive steroids. Documentation of reasons for non‐administration were poor.