Human-centered design and maternity care: is this a possible interplay?-a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Design
• Maternal Health
• Human-Centered Design

Background:

• Maternity care requires balancing clinical effectiveness with patient experience.
• Human-centered design (HCD) offers a framework to improve healthcare services.
• Integrating HCD into maternity care is crucial for its humanization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the intersection of human-centered design and maternity care.
• To identify how HCD can address challenges in the maternity journey.
• To review existing literature on HCD in maternal health.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review was conducted across multiple databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus).
• Twenty-one primary studies from diverse backgrounds and countries were selected.
• Systematic analysis included attention to socioeconomic and racial disparities, culminating in prototype testing with digital resources.

Main Results:

• HCD effectively identifies and targets gaps within healthcare systems.
• Solutions developed through HCD can overcome systemic disadvantages in maternity care.
• The integration of HCD principles leads to a more positive and humanized maternal experience.

Conclusions:

• Balancing clinical care with HCD is essential for centering women's needs.
• HCD is a valuable tool for improving the maternity journey and achieving humanized care.
• Addressing socioeconomic and racial factors within HCD is vital for equitable maternal health outcomes.