Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37164476›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2023

Self-care interventions for preconception, antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care: a scoping review.

Phi-Yen Nguyen, Cassandra Caddy, Alyce N Wilson, Kara Blackburn, Matthew J Page, A Metin Gülmezoglu, Manjulaa Narasimhan, Mercedes Bonet, Özge Tunçalp, Joshua P Vogel

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Using mHealth to Support Queensland Mothers and Children From Birth to Two Years: A Longitudinal Study of Connecting2u.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Phi-Yen NguyenMethods in Evidence Synthesis Unit, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0476-3385
Cassandra CaddyInternational Development, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Alyce N WilsonInternational Development, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Kara BlackburnInternational Development, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Matthew J PageSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4242-7526
A Metin GülmezogluConcept Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-4674-0998
Manjulaa NarasimhanDepartment of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Mercedes BonetDepartment of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Özge TunçalpDepartment of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Joshua P VogelInternational Development, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Joshua.vogel@burnet.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-3214-7096

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation INV-001304World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo identify current and emerging self-care interventions to improve maternity healthcare.

designScoping review. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, Embase, EmCare, PsycINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL/CDSR, CINAHL Plus (last searched on 17 October 2021). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Evidence syntheses, interventional or observational studies describing any tool, resource or strategy to facilitate self-care in women preparing to get pregnant, currently pregnant, giving birth or post partum. DATA EXTRACTION/SYNTHESIS: Screening and data collection were conducted independently by two reviewers. Self-care interventions were identified based on predefined criteria and inductively organised into 11 categories. Characteristics of study design, interventions, participants and outcomes were recorded.

resultsWe identified eligible 580 studies. Many included studies evaluated interventions in high-income countries (45%) and during antenatal care (76%). Self-care categories featuring highest numbers of studies were diet and nutrition (26% of all studies), physical activity (24%), psychosocial strategies (18%) and other lifestyle adjustments (17%). Few studies featured self-care interventions for sexual health and postpartum family planning (2%), self-management of medication (3%) and self-testing/sampling (3%). Several venues to introduce self-care were described: health facilities (44%), community venues (14%), digital platforms (18%), partner/peer support (7%) or over-the-counter products (13%). Involvement of health and community workers were described in 38% and 8% of studies, who supported self-care interventions by providing therapeutics for home use, training or counselling. The most common categories of outcomes evaluated were neonatal outcomes (eg, birth weight) (31%), maternal mental health (26%) and labour outcomes (eg, duration of labour) (22%).

conclusionSelf-care interventions in maternal care are diverse in their applications, implementation characteristics and intended outcomes. Many self-care interventions were implemented with support from the health system at initial stages of use and uptake. Some promising self-care interventions require further primary research, though several are matured and up-to-date evidence syntheses are needed. Research on self-care in the preconception period is lacking.

Indexed as

Labor, ObstetricPostnatal CareFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornParturitionPostpartum PeriodPregnancySelf CareAntenatalHealth policyMaternal medicinePUBLIC HEALTHREPRODUCTIVE MEDICINESEXUAL MEDICINE

Identifiers

PMID37164476
PMCPMC10173967

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.