Prenatal Practices Research Articles

Services for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: a comprehensive Baltimore City-wide 2023 assessment

BackgroundOverdose is a leading cause of maternal mortality; in response, maternal mortality review committees have recommended expanding substance use disorder (SUD) screening, improving collaboration between obstetric and SUD treatment providers, and reducing fragmentation in systems of care. We undertook an analysis of the perinatal SUD treatment landscape in Baltimore, Maryland in order to identify barriers to treatment engagement during pregnancy and the postpartum period and guide system improvement efforts.MethodsWe conducted a survey of seven birthing hospitals, 31 prenatal care practices, and 108 SUD treatment providers in Baltimore from April-June 2023. Organizations were asked to quantify care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) as well as about screening, service availability, referral practices, and support needed to improve care.Results61% of the 145 contacted organizations responded. Birthing hospitals reported caring for pregnant persons with OUD with greater frequency than prenatal care practices or SUD treatment programs. Most birthing hospitals and prenatal care practices reported screening for OUD at intake, but the minority reported using validated tools. Service availability varied by type of organization and type of service. In general, prenatal care practices offered the fewest number of SUD-related services. Most SUD treatment programs that offered buprenorphine or methadone to the general population also offered these medications to pregnant patients. Withdrawal management for comorbid alcohol/benzodiazepine use disorders during pregnancy was more limited. The majority of birthing hospitals and prenatal care practices reported offering neither direct naloxone distribution nor prescriptions. Few SUD treatment programs offered tailored services for perinatal patients or for parents of young children, and many programs do not permit children onsite. Respondents reported high levels of interest in education and consultative support on SUD treatment in pregnancy within obstetric settings and on pregnancy-related medical concerns within SUD programs.ConclusionsThis project provides a comprehensive picture of services available for treatment of perinatal OUD in a major US city. Results have served as a guide for ongoing citywide system improvement efforts by our project team and offer a model for other jurisdictions hoping to strengthen services for perinatal OUD and reduce maternal mortality.

How does Yoga Exercise affect Anxiety in Pregnant Women? : Pre-Experimental Study

Anxious during pregnancy not only impacts pregnant women's health, but it may also interfere with the delivery process, resulting in early labor, extended labor, cesarean delivery, and low birth weight. According to WHO estimates, psychiatric illnesses affect around 10% of pregnant women and 13% of postpartum women globally. This frequency is greater in underdeveloped nations among pregnant women (15.6%) and postpartum women (19.8%). The goal of this study is to determine the effect of prenatal yoga exercise on the anxiety of pregnant women at TPMB Mamah Suhaeriah in 2022. Method for doing research This sort of study employs the Pre-Experimental technique, using a one-group pretest-posttest design. Total sampling was used, and there were 20 responders in total. An observation sheet was employed as the study instrument. The Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test was performed to analyze the data. The Wilcoxon Sign Rank test yielded a p-value of 0.000, which is less than the threshold of 0.05. This indicates that Ha is accepted. Conclusion: Prenatal yoga practice has an influence on pregnant women's anxiety levels at TPMB Mamah Suhaeriah in 2022. Pregnant women are advised to manage their psychological condition effectively and to exercise often, since exercise has good benefits for survival during pregnancy

Effect of Music Therapy on Anxiety in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Pregnancy can heighten anxiety levels, impacting both maternal and fetal well-being. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 33 randomized controlled trials exploring the effects of music therapy on anxiety in pregnant women. The studies included diverse populations, ranging from women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to those facing high-risk pregnancies. Music therapy interventions varied widely, including virtual reality experiences, classical music, lullabies, and patient-selected music, administered at different pregnancy stages such as IVF treatments, elective cesarean sections, and high-risk hospitalizations. The findings consistently demonstrated that music therapy significantly reduces anxiety levels in pregnant women. Positive outcomes included reductions in both state and trait anxiety, improved pregnancy rates, and enhanced maternal-fetal parameters. Additionally, music therapy showed promise in reducing anxiety during labor, cesarean deliveries, and high-risk hospital stays. These varied interventions and their positive outcomes highlight the potential of music therapy as an effective, non-pharmacological approach to managing pregnancy-related anxiety. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence on music therapy's efficacy in alleviating anxiety during pregnancy. It underscores the need for further research to standardize interventions and incorporate music therapy into routine prenatal care. By enhancing the overall well-being of expectant mothers, music therapy could become a valuable adjunct to conventional prenatal care practices.

Ethical Challenges in Information Disclosure and Decision-making in Prenatal Testing: A Focus Group Study of Chinese Health Professionals in Maternal and Child Health Services.

The international community has proposed a comprehensive strategy to prevent congenital abnormalities. And China, with a high incidence of congenital diseases, has implemented measures including prenatal screening and diagnosis to reduce the morbidity of congenital abnormalities. However, ethical challenges arise in the practice of prenatal screening and diagnosis among healthcare professionals. Five focus group discussions were conducted with twenty-four health professionals working in maternal and child health services in Hunan Province, China, to explore the ethical challenges they encountered in prenatal testing decision-making and information disclosure practices, as well as their views on these challenges. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring maximum demographic diversity. Three main themes were identified: 1) balancing between information disclosure and privacy protection; 2) patient-oriented decision-making and tensions within family-oriented decision-making; 3) the disparity between the limited help clinical ethics committees (CECs) can provide and professionals' need for CECs. Ethical norms for information disclosure and autonomous decision-making within prenatal screening and diagnostic institutions must be established. Utilizing CECs is crucial to guide professionals in delivering prenatal testing services while simultaneously focusing on targeted improvement of communication skills among these professionals.

"A Picture Paints a Thousand Words"-A Systematic Review of the Ethical Issues of Prenatal Ultrasound.

Prenatal ultrasound is a non-invasive diagnostic examination. Despite the recognized diagnostic value, this technology raises complex ethical questions. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis that coherently maps the ethical challenges raised by prenatal ultrasound examination, both 2D and 3D. We performed a systematic literature review. Six databases were systematically searched. The results highlight how concerns related to beneficence, informed consent, and autonomy are mainly related to routine use of prenatal ultrasound in the clinical context, while considerations linked to overmedicalization of pregnancy, discrimination, and fetal ontology were often reported in relation to the impact ultrasound is having on medicine and society. Ethical issues in the context of pre-abortion ultrasound, obstetric practices in low-income settings, and keepsake ultrasound imaging were also greatly discussed. Since prenatal ultrasound practices critically impact pregnant people's autonomy and their role within pregnancy, we conclude that information providing strategies should be developed to appropriately inform pregnant people about the nature, purpose, risks, and choices revolving around prenatal ultrasound. In addition, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate the social and clinical dimensions of prenatal ultrasound, future research should focus on examining if and how such dimensions should be reconciled.

Mainstreaming genetics into Italian prenatal care: exploring the future implementation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the Italian National Healthcare System using stakeholder interviews

IntroductionNon-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has revolutionised the way prenatal testing is performed globally. Italy is one of the European countries considering incorporating NIPT nationwide into the publicly funded healthcare system....

Implementation of trauma-informed care strategies in a comprehensive maternal-fetal care center.

To identify traumatic stress symptoms among expectant parents with a confirmed congenital anomaly and describe the ways in which a maternal-fetal care center, with an embedded multidisciplinary psychosocial support team, provides specific trauma-informed strategies to mitigate psychological distress from the first patient contact throughout prenatal care practice. Traumatic stress symptoms in response to the confirmed congenital anomaly were assessed using the Impact of Events Scale-Revised. With Institutional Review Board approval, a total of 4,391 pregnant parents and 3,570 partners were analyzed based on routine universal screening performed in a single maternal-fetal care center. Exploratory, descriptive analyses examined rates of overall traumatic stress symptoms and subscale scores. 28.7% of pregnant parents and 24.2% of expectant partners reported elevated traumatic stress symptoms in response to their confirmed congenital anomaly, with clinically significant risk endorsed among 16.2% and 13.4%, respectively. Symptoms of intrusion and avoidance were most notable among parents. Methods of trauma-informed care provided by the multidisciplinary care team in collaboration with the psychosocial support team to identify, support, and intervene with high-risk parents are described. Recognizing that expectant parents who receive a prenatal diagnosis of a congenital anomaly are at heightened risk for experiencing traumatic stress symptoms, multidisciplinary care teams should offer trauma-informed strategies and psychosocial support services, including parental mental health screening, psychosocial assessment, and clinical intervention, as part of routine prenatal care to reduce the negative effect of emotional distress in the expectant parents prior to birth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

An assessment of analytical performance using the six sigma scale in second-trimester maternal prenatal screening practices in China

ObjectivesWe aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of second-trimester maternal serum screening in China, and to compare if there are differences in sigma levels across different methods and months. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted to assess the analytical quality levels of laboratories by calculating the Sigma metrics with prenatal screening biomarkers: AFP, Total β-hCG, free β-hCG, uE3. Data from 591 laboratories were selected. Sigma metrics were computed using the formula: Sigma metrics(σ) = (%TEa - |%Bias|)/%CV. The Friedman test and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare differences across various methods and different months. The Hodges–Lehmann was used for determining 95 % confidence intervals of pseudo-medians. ResultsOnly uE3 showed significant monthly variations in sigma calculations. However, around 8 % of laboratories across all four analytes demonstrated sigma levels both above 6 and below 3 in different months. Laboratories utilizing time-resolved fluorescence methods significantly outperformed those using chemiluminescence in sigma level. For AFP, the pseudo-median difference between these methods lies within a 95 % confidence interval of (−3.22, −1.93), while for uE3, it is at (−2.30, −1.40). Notably, the median sigma levels for all analytes reached the 4-sigma threshold, with free β-hCG even attaining the 6-sigma level. ConclusionWith current standards, China's second-trimester maternal serum screening is of relatively high analytical quality, and variations in sigma levels exist across different months and methods.

Effectiveness of The Use of Chamomile Aromatherapy on Reducing Stress Levels in Pregnant Women

ABSTRACT Pregnancy is often accompanied by increased stress levels due to physiological and psychological changes, which can negatively impact both maternal and fetal health. Natural and non-invasive methods to alleviate stress during pregnancy are increasingly sought after, with chamomile aromatherapy being a promising option due to its known calming properties. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of chamomile aromatherapy in reducing stress levels among pregnant women. Quantitative research, Quasi experiment with a one group pre-post test design. The number of samples used in this research was 30 people using accidental sampling. The research instrument used to measure the stress level of pregnant women is the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The results of the paired t-test statistical test obtained a p-value of 0.01 (< α 0.05), meaning that there was effectiveness of giving chamomile aromatherapy in reducing stress levels in pregnant women at UPTD Puskesmas Lao. Chamomile aromatherapy is a safe, effective, and accessible method for managing stress in pregnant women, potentially enhancing overall prenatal health and well-being. This study supports the integration of chamomile aromatherapy into prenatal care practices. Keywords : Chamomile Aromatherapy, Stress Reduction, Pregnancy

Effect of Education on Adherence to Recommended Prenatal Practices among Indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé Communities of Panama.

Background and Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the adherence of Ngäbe-Buglé women to WHO-recommended prenatal practices. The secondary objective was to compare adherence levels between women who received prenatal education from official medical providers and those educated through traditional or community-based sources within Ngäbe-Buglé communities. Materials and Methods: An eight-question survey was verbally administered to 137 Ngäbe-Buglé women at clinics set up by the non-profit NGO Floating Doctors in eight communities. A two-sided Fisher's Exact test with a p = 0.05 was used to compare the results of mothers who received prenatal education from evidence-based sources to other groups. Results: Out of the 137 surveyed women, 65 reported taking prenatal vitamins, 21 had prenatal check-ups, 136 avoided alcohol, 31 increased caloric intake, and 102 maintained their activity levels. Significant differences were observed in prenatal vitamin adherence between those educated by official sources versus unofficial sources (p = 0.0029) and official sources compared to those with no prenatal education (p < 0.0001). The difference was also significant for education from an unofficial source versus no education (p = 0.0056). However, no significant differences were found in other prenatal practices based on education sources. Conclusions: Our findings highlight deficiencies in both prenatal education and adherence to recommended practices among Ngäbe-Buglé women. Prenatal education significantly improved adherence to taking prenatal vitamins, suggesting its effectiveness as an intervention. Future interventions should prioritize culturally competent prenatal education and address barriers to accessing prenatal healthcare in Ngäbe-Buglé communities.

Conceptualizing Motherhood in Yoga

Prenatal yoga classes have become widespread worldwide. Still, while scientific studies examined the benefits of such practices, the conceptual and sociocultural meanings still need to be studied. This paper focuses on pregnancy-oriented Iyengar yoga, which includes pre-conception, prenatal and postnatal yoga practices developed in the Iyengar Yoga school. Interestingly, while these practices are seen as ideal for pregnant and postpartum women, they contrast with what is perceived as an ideal yoga practice. Thus, pregnancy-oriented Iyengar Yoga reveals a shift in purpose from achieving an excellent and advanced yoga practice to the health of female yoga practitioners and their children in a modern lifestyle setting. The findings of this paper are based on my doctoral research, and draw on textual analysis of over fifty relevant Iyengar yoga publications, and qualitative interviews with thirty-seven Iyengar Yoga teachers and four members of the Iyengar family between 2015 and 2019.

Determinants of neural tube defect among newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units of teaching hospitals in Gedeo Zone and Sidama Region, Southern Ethiopia: a case–control study

BackgroundNeural tube defects are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality that can occur in the early pregnancy periods. Though the burden is high, it gains only limited attention. In...

Aromatherapy vs. Acupressure for Pregnancy Nausea Efficacy

Nausea and vomiting afflict many pregnant women, particularly in the first trimester, prompting interest in non-pharmacological remedies like citrus lemon aromatherapy and PC6 acupressure massage. Yet, comparative studies on their effectiveness remain scarce. This research aimed to assess the efficacy of these interventions in reducing nausea and vomiting among first-trimester pregnant women with emesis gravidarum. Using a quasi-experimental design, two groups of participants received either citrus lemon aromatherapy or PC6 acupressure massage. The PUQE-24 scale measured symptoms before and after the interventions. Results indicated significant reductions in symptoms for both groups (p &lt; 0.05), with no significant difference in effectiveness between the interventions (p = 0.465). These findings underscore the potential of non-pharmacological therapies to alleviate pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, suggesting their integration into prenatal care practices for improved maternal well-being. Highlight: Non-drug Relief: Citrus lemon aromatherapy and PC6 acupressure massage. First-Trimester Aid: Efficacy for pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. Equal Effectiveness: Aromatherapy versus acupressure for symptom reduction. Keyword: Nausea, vomiting, pregnancy, aromatherapy, acupressure

Patient Acceptability of Social Needs Screening at an Ambulatory Prenatal Practice [ID 2683516

INTRODUCTION: Social determinants of health (SDOH) influence maternal–child health outcomes, but standardized social needs screening for prenatal patients is rare, and obstetric practices lack guidance for implementation and tool selection. Our objective was to evaluate patient acceptability of and preferences for SDOH screening during prenatal care. METHODS: A paper-based patient survey regarding acceptability of SDOH screening was distributed during a pilot of two different validated screening tools at an ambulatory prenatal practice. Pregnant patients were given the survey during prenatal visits. Demographic data were abstracted from chart review. Descriptive analysis was employed to interpret the findings. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were surveyed. Of these, 67% of patients identified as Black or African American, and 84% had Medicaid or emergency medical assistance. Our patients viewed screening favorably: 82% believed that our team would be able to provide helpful resources, 75% would welcome our assistance if faced with social challenges, and 77% would use resources if provided. Only 11% of patients disagreed that social needs screening was relevant to their prenatal visit. Just 15% of patients preferred the questions to be asked verbally compared to self-administered. CONCLUSION: Social needs screening is acceptable to prenatal patients and can be feasibly self-administered. Patients felt that the SDOH questions were relevant to their care and would be open to resources and referrals if they had social needs. Future goals will be to universalize screening in prenatal practices, identify acceptable screening tools, and ensure social needs are addressed effectively once identified.

The impact of yoga in pregnancy on placental growth factor levels and mean arterial pressure in pre-eclampsia: A randomized controlled trial

Context: Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy-related condition characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and edema occurring after 20 weeks of pregnancy or during the postpartum period. Several markers are often assessed to determine the suitable option for confirming pre-eclampsia diagnosis, one of which is the examination of placental growth factor (PlGF) as a placental ischemia indicator. Aims: To evaluate the impact of prenatal yoga on PlGF and mean arterial pressure (MAP) levels in pre-eclampsia within the Madura region. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on fifty subjects that were randomly allocated to the experimental group with pre-post control groups consisting of 50 participants, namely 25 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 25 healthy individuals. The selection was conducted based on the following inclusion criteria: belonging to Madura ethnicity spanning three generations, exhibiting pregnancy duration &gt;20 weeks, maternal ages ranging from 20–35 years, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) &gt;25, a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), kidney disorders, pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension, or family history of chronic high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia among those at risk. PlGF levels were estimated using an ELISA kit, while blood pressure was measured with an Omron brand sphygmomanometer. Results: Statistical analysis performed with the Wilcoxon sign test and T-test indicated significant differences (p&lt;0.005) in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and MAP between the groups. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed in PlGF levels before and after engaging in prenatal yoga practice (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that prenatal yoga contributed to the elevation of PlGF levels in women with pre-eclampsia, compared to their healthy counterparts.

Transport accessibility and hospital attributes: A nonlinear analysis of their impact on Women's prenatal care seeking behavior

Ensuring women receive vital prenatal care is crucial for maternal and newborn health. Limited research explores factors influencing prenatal care-seeking from a geospatial perspective. This study, based on a substantial Wuhan dataset (23,947 samples), investigates factors influencing prenatal care-seeking, focusing on transport accessibility and hospital attributes. Findings indicate a nuanced relationship: (1) A non-linear trend, resembling an inverted “U,” reveals the complex interplay between transport accessibility, hospital attributes, and prenatal care visits. Hospital attributes have a more pronounced impact than transport accessibility. (2) Interaction analysis underscores that lower prenatal care visits relate to low-income and education levels, despite reasonable public transport accessibility. (3) Spatial disparities are significant, with suburban areas facing increased obstacles compared to urban areas, particularly for those in suburban rural areas. This study enhances understanding by emphasizing threshold effects and spatial heterogeneity, offering valuable perspectives for refining prenatal care policies and practices.

Compliance to prenatal care among pregnant women at Panglima Estino, Province of Sulu: an assessment

This study assessed the extent of compliance to prenatal care among pregnant women in Panglima Estino, Province of Sulu in terms of Awareness to Prenatal Care, Family Tradition, Cultural Belief and Practices, Availability to Health Care Facilities, Financial Constraints and Accessibility, and Language and Communication Barriers. With 100 samples taken through non-probability sampling method via purposive sampling, and with the use of weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test for independent samples, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s r, this study reveals the following findings: 1) Most of the respondents are within the age range of 31-40 years old, all are married, mostly are unemployed with 5,000 &amp;amp; below monthly income, and have secondary level of education; 2) On the average, there is a moderate extent of compliance of pregnant women to prenatal care; 3) Generally, variables age, civil status, occupation, average monthly income, and educational attainment indeed significantly mediate in ways how pregnant women assessed the extent of compliance of pregnant women to prenatal care; 4) Generally, the group of respondents who perceived the extent of compliance to prenatal care among pregnant women in Panglima Estino, Province of Sulu in terms of Awareness to Prenatal Care as Agree or with High Extent may not necessarily be the same group of respondents who perceived Family Tradition, Cultural Belief and Practices, Availability to Health Care Facilities, Financial Constraints and Accessibility, and Language and Communication Barriers as Moderately Agree or with Moderate Extent, respectively; and 5) This study supports the principle forwarded by Mosammet Khaleda Akter which espouses that, to reduce the ratio of maternal and infant mortality and to improve overall birth outcomes, adequate prenatal care is recommended. Adequate prenatal care is one of the core interventions for improving maternal and fetal outcomes where evidence suggests that access to adequate prenatal care is strongly associated with substantial reductions in mortality and morbidity for both mother and newborn.

Whole-genome sequencing analysis in fetal structural anomalies: novel phenotype-genotype discoveries.

The identification of structural variants and single-nucleotide variants is essential in finding molecular etiologies of monogenic genetic disorders. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is becoming more widespread in genetic disease diagnosis. However, data on its clinical utility remain limited in prenatal practice. We aimed to expand our understanding of implementing WGS in the genetic diagnosis of fetal structural anomalies. We employed trio WGS with a minimum coverage of 40× on the MGI DNBSEQ-T7 platform in a cohort of 17 fetuses presenting with aberrations detected by ultrasound, but uninformative findings of standard chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and exome sequencing (ES). Causative genetic variants were identified in two families, with an increased diagnostic yield of 11.8% (2/17). Both were exon-level copy-number variants of small size (3.03 kb and 5.16 kb) and beyond the detection thresholds of CMA and ES. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, we have described the first prenatal instance of the association of FGF8 with holoprosencephaly and facial deformities. Our analysis demonstrates the clinical value of WGS in the diagnosis of the underlying etiology of fetuses with structural abnormalities, when routine genetic tests have failed to provide a diagnosis. Additionally, the novel variants and new fetal manifestations have expanded the mutational and phenotypic spectrums of BBS9 and FGF8. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Where is the “counseling” in prenatal genetic counseling?

ObjectivePrenatal genetic testing is routinely offered to all pregnant patients in the United States and is variably offered to certain pregnant populations globally [1]. To achieve value-based, informed decision-making, we argue for a shift away from the predominant “teaching” model of genetic counseling practice that prioritizes information and counselor dominance, toward a “counseling” model of practice that prioritizes the patient’s narrative, values and beliefs. DiscussionSince prenatal testing began, genetic counseling has aimed to facilitate informed decision-making. Many patients are not familiar with the conditions which can be screened for prenatally or the quality of life of affected children. This lack of understanding can leave expectant parents unprepared to make informed decisions about prenatal testing. As the number of prenatal genetic tests expands, genetic counselors and all healthcare providers who discuss prenatal testing face a growing amount of information that is not feasible to explain to patients in a routine appointment. Research demonstrates that the common approach to genetic counseling, including in the prenatal setting, is the provision of biomedical information. Yet, genetic counseling outcome studies suggest that attending to the relational aspects of genetic counseling are associated with more positive patient outcomes, including enhanced knowledge, informed decision-making and greater patient satisfaction [2,3]. Through case vignettes, we illustrate the application of a counseling model of practice using Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) practice-based competencies in the domain of “Interpersonal, Psychosocial and Counseling Skills” [4]. Finally, we propose changes across the genetic counseling profession to move clinical practice toward a more relational model of care. Practice implicationsA counseling model of genetic counseling practice leads to more positive patient outcomes [2,3]. Genetic counselors and other prenatal healthcare providers can leverage existing counseling and communication skills to support clients in value-based, informed decision-making in prenatal genetic counseling practice.

Equity in prenatal healthcare services globally: an umbrella review

BackgroundTimely, appropriate, and equitable access to quality healthcare during pregnancy is proven to contribute to better health outcomes of birthing individuals and infants following birth. Equity is conceptualized as the absence of differences in healthcare access and quality among population groups. Healthcare policies are guides for front-line practices, and despite merits of contemporary policies striving to foster equitable healthcare, inequities persist. The purpose of this umbrella review is to identify prenatal healthcare practices, summarize how equities/inequities are reported in relation to patient experiences or health outcomes when accessing or using services, and collate equity reporting characteristics.MethodsFor this umbrella review, six electronic databases were searched (Medline, EMBASE, APA PsychInfo, CINAHL, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, and Cochrane Library). Included studies were extracted for publication and study characteristics, equity reporting, primary outcomes (prenatal care influenced by equity/inequity) and secondary outcomes (infant health influenced by equity/inequity during pregnancy). Data was analyzed deductively using the PROGRESS-Plus equity framework and by summative content analysis for equity reporting characteristics. The included articles were assessed for quality using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews.ResultsThe search identified 8065 articles and 236 underwent full-text screening. Of the 236, 68 systematic reviews were included with first authors representing 20 different countries. The population focus of included studies ranged across prenatal only (n = 14), perinatal (n = 25), maternal (n = 2), maternal and child (n = 19), and a general population (n = 8). Barriers to equity in prenatal care included travel and financial burden, culturally insensitive practices that deterred care engagement and continuity, and discriminatory behaviour that reduced care access and satisfaction. Facilitators to achieve equity included innovations such as community health workers, home visitation programs, conditional cash transfer programs, virtual care, and cross-cultural training, to enhance patient experiences and increase their access to, and use of health services. There was overlap across PROGRESS-Plus factors.ConclusionsThis umbrella review collated inequities present in prenatal healthcare services, globally. Further, this synthesis contributes to future solution and action-oriented research and practice by assembling evidence-informed opportunities, innovations, and approaches that may foster equitable prenatal health services to all members of diverse communities.