TY - JOUR
T1 - Pregnancy Interventions to Improve Birth Outcomes
T2 - What Are the Effects on Maternal Outcomes? A Scoping Review
AU - Zavala, Eleonor
AU - Rhodes, Mary
AU - Christian, Parul
N1 - Funding Information:
This review was undertaken with support from World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland under an agreement for performance of work to Johns Hopkins (PI: PC). The funders of the study had no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or writing of the report.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Zavala, Rhodes and Christian.
PY - 2022/11/2
Y1 - 2022/11/2
N2 - Objectives: Interventions in pregnancy are commonly evaluated for their effects on birth outcomes because maternal infection and poor nutrition are the primary contributors to adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the extent to which such interventions directly impact maternal health and nutrition has not been succinctly characterized. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of 27 pregnancy interventions to summarize the evidence of impact on maternal outcomes. Results: Overall, these were reported incompletely, and we failed to find any evidence for eight interventions. Influenza vaccination, insecticide-treated bed nets, intermittent preventive treatment for malaria, anthelmintic therapy, and treatment of bacterial vaginosis, asymptomatic bacteriuria, and periodontal disease during pregnancy provided direct benefit to women, with reductions in infection risk. Nutritional interventions such as micronutrient supplementation and balanced energy and protein improved outcomes of maternal anemia and gestational weight gain, particularly in deficient populations. Calcium and low dose aspirin significantly reduced the risk of pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: These findings highlight antenatal interventions benefitting maternal health and provide insights into pathways for impacting birth and infant outcomes.
AB - Objectives: Interventions in pregnancy are commonly evaluated for their effects on birth outcomes because maternal infection and poor nutrition are the primary contributors to adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the extent to which such interventions directly impact maternal health and nutrition has not been succinctly characterized. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of 27 pregnancy interventions to summarize the evidence of impact on maternal outcomes. Results: Overall, these were reported incompletely, and we failed to find any evidence for eight interventions. Influenza vaccination, insecticide-treated bed nets, intermittent preventive treatment for malaria, anthelmintic therapy, and treatment of bacterial vaginosis, asymptomatic bacteriuria, and periodontal disease during pregnancy provided direct benefit to women, with reductions in infection risk. Nutritional interventions such as micronutrient supplementation and balanced energy and protein improved outcomes of maternal anemia and gestational weight gain, particularly in deficient populations. Calcium and low dose aspirin significantly reduced the risk of pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: These findings highlight antenatal interventions benefitting maternal health and provide insights into pathways for impacting birth and infant outcomes.
KW - infectious disease
KW - malnutrition
KW - maternal health
KW - pregnancy
KW - prenatal care
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U2 - 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604620
DO - 10.3389/ijph.2022.1604620
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36405527
AN - SCOPUS:85142141438
SN - 1661-8556
VL - 67
JO - International Journal of Public Health
JF - International Journal of Public Health
M1 - 1604620
ER -