Prenatal and Postpartum Care Experiences Among Black Birthing People in the United States: An Integrative Review.
Laura M Segovia, Emily Neiman, Shannon L Gillespie and 2 others
PMID 39539102WHAT IT FOUND
Black birthing people described prenatal and postpartum care as positive when providers were continuous, culturally centered, and collaborative.
Negative experiences were more common: fragmented visits, bias, disrespect, and barriers to access.
Key findings
01Positive prenatal and postpartum experiences were linked to continuity of care, culturally centered care, and accessible care.
02Negative experiences were linked to fragmented care, culturally insensitive care, and inaccessible care.
03Patients described negative provider interactions as discriminatory, stereotypical, judgmental, disrespectful, distrustful, or poor-quality care.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The review covers only outpatient prenatal and postpartum care, not labour, birth, or inpatient care. No study looked only at the postpartum period, so it cannot separate postpartum-specific experiences from pregnancy experiences. Most included studies were qualitative and describe experiences, not tested effects of care models. Half the studies were more than 10 years old, and the review could not combine quantitative results in a meta-analysis. Four included studies had a moderate risk of bias, and the reviewers identified as White, so interpretation may reflect their own perspectives.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The paper lists the Air Force Institute of Technology as funder.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these findings as proof that continuity, culturally centered care, or respectful communication improve maternal outcomes. The review reports patient experiences and did not test these models against mortality, morbidity, or other clinical outcomes. No randomized trials of care models were included.