Abstract
There is increasing awareness of perinatal health as a public health issue, while the antenatal period is a transitional time for parents-to-be and presents various opportunities to maximize health outcomes. The objectives of this scoping review were to identify non-pharmacological interventions in antenatal care, to examine the health outcomes and reductions of perinatal morbidity occurring in childbearing women as results of these interventions, to explore the mechanisms of intervention effect, and overall, highlight where further development and research into perinatal health practice and service delivery may be warranted.
Highlights
For the expectant parent, the childbearing period has been identified as a major life event that is associated with many potentially distressing challenges [1,2,3]
Interventions comprising dual-application are even more likely to produce favorable outcomes. This scoping review identified key areas in antenatal care for which randomised controlled trials have been conducted and identified that specific non-pharmological interventions were effective for obtaining a number of positive outcomes in antenatal care
Mechanisms correlated with positive effect included timing of initiation, i.e., beginning at the start of pregnancy, as well as programs supervised by suitably qualified perinatal health professionals
Summary
The childbearing period has been identified as a major life event that is associated with many potentially distressing challenges [1,2,3]. Researchers have systematically examined health promotion before pregnancy, and the contribution of interventions concerning a number of potentially modifiable risk factors that are known to be associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, i.e. smoking, poor nutrition, and alcohol abuse [7]. Little research has been conducted to explore the breadth and efficacy of antenatal interventions designed to prepare and facilitate both clinical (e.g. caesarean section rates, incontinence, gestational diabetes) and psychosocial (e.g. depression, parenting knowledge) aspects that are known to influence perinatal outcomes. Such variables are of importance given the effects and influence they can have on best-practice maternal and child health outcomes. Consideration of such variables is of benefit from an economic stance, as has been illustrated by an Australian analysis estimate that reports the cost of postpartum depression and anxiety
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