Holistic antenatal care during pregnancy: A systematic review

Background Pregnancy outcomes are determined by the type of antenatal care a woman receives. The purpose of this review was to conduct a critical analysis of the literature on the provision of holistic antenatal care to pregnant women. Design A systematic research review was employed for the study. Data Sources A search of EBSCO Host, Google Scholar, Sabinet, and Science Direct databases was performed. After reviewing 150 paper titles and abstracts, 14 studies were found to meet the final criteria for quality assessment. Included were only English-language papers published from 2020 to 2023. Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies Quantitative, Qualitative, Review studies, Quasi-experimental, and cohort studies. Papers had to include adults (>18 years old), and pregnant women attending antenatal care at different health facilities worldwide and published in peer-reviewed journals from 2020 onwards. Results Four of the fourteen analysed articles focused on socioeconomic status, three on staff attitudes, age, parity, and religion, and one on infrastructure. Six studies focused on midwives ’role in providing holistic antenatal care. These factors impacted pregnant women’s ability to receive comprehensive antenatal care. Three studies on woman-centered care and three on focused antenatal care have also come to light to enhance midwives’ capacity to deliver comprehensive prenatal care. Conclusion Healthcare facilities should offer an environment where communities may learn about the importance of antenatal care visits and how to ensure pregnant women obtain acceptable treatments. Implications This study demonstrates the necessity for healthcare providers to be resourceful about offering holistic antenatal care to pregnant women to enhance outcomes for both mothers and newborns.