Study protocol for PReCePT: Equity in antenatal MgSO4 treatment

This protocol describes the rationale, plan, and methodology for a study investigating sociodemographic inequities in use of antenatal magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) in England, for neuroprotection of the preterm infant. It is a secondary data analysis study using routinely collected healthcare data from the National Neonatal Research Database. The focus of our analysis is to identify whether any inequities in treatment changed from before to after implementation of PReCePT, a national Quality Improvement programme to increase antenatal MgSO4 use in England. This work is motivated by, and in the context of, wider evidence of persistent inequities in maternal and perinatal care in England, and evidence that QI programmes, even those that successfully improve overall levels of care, do not necessarily address - any may even worsen - inequities in care.