Prenatal and Postpartum Care Experiences Among Black Birthing People in the United States: An Integrative Review

Among Black birthing people, high-quality, respectful care throughout pregnancy and postpartum is hindered by distrust, racial discrimination, and unsatisfactory care. The purpose of this integrative review was to examine prenatal and postpartum care experiences among Black birthing people in the United States.

A literature search, spanning from inception through October 6, 2022, across 4 research databases, used a combination of keywords to capture reports on care experiences among Black birthing people. We included quantitative and qualitative studies in the United States with people who self-identified as Black or African American and reported prenatal or postpartum health care experiences. Intrapartum experiences were excluded. All studies were evaluated with the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool, National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment tool, or Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. Data were analyzed and synthesized using the Joanna Briggs Institute convergent integrated approach to incorporate quantitative and qualitative research.

A total of 16 studies published over 27 years met the inclusion criteria. All studies examined the health care experiences of Black birthing people during prenatal or postpartum care. None of the studies focused solely on postpartum care experiences. The 2 most prominent themes were models of care and patient-provider interactions, encompassing both positive and negative experiences. Positive care experiences included collaborative patient-provider interactions, continuity of care, and culturally centered care. Adverse experiences were more frequently noted and involved discriminatory treatment during patient-provider interactions, fragmented care models, and a lack of cultural awareness.

Black birthing people in the United States report some positive but more negative health care experiences during pregnancy and postpartum care, which may play an important role in health inequities. Promoting prenatal and postpartum care models that provide continuity and are high-quality, collaborative, and culturally centered were identified as high-priority targets to foster patient safety and improve clinical outcomes.