SynthesisJAMA network open2026
Doula Care and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review.
Synthesis in JAMA network open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Six-month mental health outcomes among participants in a postpartum care in the NICU (PeliCaN) trial: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.Maternal health, neonatology and perinatology · 2026Article
- BRIDGES: a patient-centered, community-informed HIV doula program that supports infant feeding choice among Hispanic and Caribbean families: a study protocol.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Importance: Maternal-infant health inequities remain a critical public health issue in the US, where adverse maternal and infant health outcomes disproportionately affect American Indian or Alaska Native and Black populations. Doula care-where trained doula professionals provide physical, emotional, and informational support across the perinatal continuum-is a community-based strategy to improve outcomes. Objective: To systematically evaluate clinical and pilot trial evidence on the association of doula care with maternal and infant health outcomes; identify gaps in study design, equity, and implementation; and propose future directions for clinical practice, health systems research, and policy. Evidence Review: This systematic review included articles published between January 1, 2000, and January 31, 2026. Searches in PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL, plus reference and expert review, identified eligible clinical or pilot trials assessing maternal and infant outcomes. Protocols, secondary analyses, abstracts, and non-English articles were excluded. Data on study design, intervention characteristics, outcomes, and risk of bias were qualitatively synthesized. Findings: Twenty-two articles describing 21 unique interventions met inclusion criteria. Most were randomized clinical trials (17 of 21 [81.0%]), with others using quasiexperimental or preference-based designs. Interventions had heterogeneity in scope, intensity, and doula training. Findings were most consistent for improved maternal anxiety, postpartum follow-up, and breastfeeding initiation, while evidence for outcomes such as cesarean delivery and pain management was more variable. Few studies addressed postpartum, abortion, or broader reproductive health contexts (eg, fertility or bereavement doulas). Methodologic gaps included limited reporting of fidelity and implementation, underrepresentation of marginalized populations, and failure to account for crossover in control groups. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this systematic review of clinical trials suggest that doula care may improve perinatal anxiety, health care utilization, and breastfeeding initiation, although the evidence for other outcomes was inconsistent. Future studies should use rigorous designs, ensure equitable representation, examine full-spectrum care, and assess implementation to support sustainable integration into maternal health systems.
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Registered trials
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.