Impact of educational strategies in low-risk prenatal care: systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Esther Pereira Da Silva,Mônica Maria Osório,Roberto Teixeira De Lima

doi:10.1590/1413-81232015219.01602015

Esther Pereira Da Silva, Mônica Maria Osório + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232015219.01602015

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Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the impact of educational strategies developed in low-risk prenatal care on obstetric outcomes from a systematic literature review. This review consulted databases PubMed, Medline, SciELO and Lilacs, analyzing randomized clinical trials with the following birth outcomes: birth weight, prematurity and breastfeeding, using the following combination of keywords: pre-natal, antenatal visits, education, health education, pregnancy outcomes, birth weight, prematurity, breastfeeding and randomized clinical trial. Nine studies were included following quality evaluation. Actions prove to be more effective when extended to the postpartum period. Most of them occurred during home visits and had a positive impact on breastfeeding and birth weight. The establishment of groups of pregnant women contributed to lower prevalence of prematurity. Breastfeeding was found to be the outcome most sensitive to educational strategies. Educational practices during the prenatal period contributed to favorable obstetric outcomes as they minimized pregnant women concerns and anxiety during the pregnancy process, preparing them for childbirth and postpartum, and should be incorporated into health services' work process.

Highlights

Prenatal care is a set of clinical and educational procedures that aim to monitor the development of pregnancy and promote mother and child health
Before the importance of educational strategies in prenatal care and their possible relationship with favorable birth outcomes, this study aims to present a systematic review of the impact of educational strategies used in prenatal low-risk pregnant women, in the following obstetric outcomes: birth weight, prematurity and breastfeeding practice, from randomized clinical trials
This systematic review revealed a shortage of studies using educational strategies in randomized clinical trials during the prenatal period

Summary

Introduction

Prenatal care is a set of clinical and educational procedures that aim to monitor the development of pregnancy and promote mother and child health. It includes the reception of women from the onset of their pregnancy to postpartum. Regarding this subject, researchers have observed gaps in educational activities during prenatal care, since low-risk pregnant women receiving prenatal care regularly show a lack of knowledge about pregnancy-derived changes and lack of preparation for childbirth as they come into the final month of their pregnancy[4,5,6]

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