Interventions to improve maternity outcomes for migrant women in high-income countries: preliminary findings from a systematic review
Stevenson K., Stevenson K., Ogunlana K., Henderson W., Edwards S., Clemente N., Raymont-Jones H., McGranahan M., Castaner M., Fellmeth G., Luchenski S., Stevenson F., Knight M., Aldridge R.
Background and Objective: Women who are migrants and who are pregnant are at high risk of poor outcomes due to experiencing numerous stressors including language barriers, social exclusion, and cultural divides in pregnancy care. Highincome countries (HICs) are often the target destination for many migrants across the world. Although HIC maternity systems are often well funded, they are not routinely tailored to care for migrant women, and there are a lack of synthesised data on the most effective ways to improve care. This primary aim of this systematic review is to determine what interventions exist to improve maternity outcomes amongst migrant women in high-income countries, and the secondary aim is to assess which interventions are most effective. Methods: PROSPERO: CRD42022380678. We will search the following databases EMBASE via Ovid, Medline via Ovid, CENTRAL, Scopus, CINAHL, PsychINFO, and Web of Science, as well as additional sources from inception up until December 2022 with no language restrictions. We will include randomised-controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies. We will exclude studies with qualitative outcome assessments. Screenin, data extraction, and risk of bias will be completed by two independent reviewers. If appropriate, we will perform random effects metaanalysis. Proposed Results: We will present a summary of the interventions retrieved which, based on our scoping search, is likely to include peer-led initiatives, specialist care services, specialist antenatal and postnatal classes, and doula services. We will create consensus on the most effective interventions to improve maternity outcomes for migrant women in HICs. Conclusion: We expect that there will have been a significant increase in relevant interventions published in the past decade, but that the evaluations of these interventions will be limited. Our findings will help funders and policymakers target the most effective maternity interventions for migrant women, and will inform future research.