TY - JOUR
T1 - Perspectives on antenatal education associated with pregnancy outcomes
T2 - Systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Hong, Kwan
AU - Hwang, Hari
AU - Han, Helin
AU - Chae, Jaeeun
AU - Choi, Jimi
AU - Jeong, Yujin
AU - Lee, Juneyoung
AU - Lee, Kyung Ju
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Australian College of Midwives
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - Background: Many studies on the relation between maternal health and infant health, including the effect of structured antenatal education, have been published and expanded over the years. Aim: Investigate the impact of various antenatal education programmes on pregnancy outcomes to aid the development of future guidelines related to maternal and foetal health. Methods: Bibliographic databases (Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Korean Studies Information Service System) were searched up to November 2018, following the PICO criteria: population (pregnant women), intervention (antenatal education), comparison (not specified), and outcome (maternal and foetal outcome including physical or mental health components). Findings: We included 23 eligible studies consisting of 14 controlled trials and 9 observational studies. The maternal physical outcomes depending on participation in antenatal education were not significantly different; however, the caesarean birth rate was lower in the antenatal education group (relative risk, RR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.82–0.99), as was the use of epidural anaesthesia (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74–0.96). The maternal mental health outcomes of stress and self-efficacy significantly improved in the antenatal education group, although there was no difference in anxiety and depression. The foetal outcomes of birth weight or gestational age at birth were also not different between the groups. Conclusion: Antenatal education can reduce maternal stress, improve self-efficacy, lower the caesarean birth rate, and decrease the use of epidural anaesthesia; however, there is limited evidence of its effects on maternal or foetal physical outcomes. Therefore, antenatal education should be standardised to elucidate its actual mental and physical health effects.
AB - Background: Many studies on the relation between maternal health and infant health, including the effect of structured antenatal education, have been published and expanded over the years. Aim: Investigate the impact of various antenatal education programmes on pregnancy outcomes to aid the development of future guidelines related to maternal and foetal health. Methods: Bibliographic databases (Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Korean Studies Information Service System) were searched up to November 2018, following the PICO criteria: population (pregnant women), intervention (antenatal education), comparison (not specified), and outcome (maternal and foetal outcome including physical or mental health components). Findings: We included 23 eligible studies consisting of 14 controlled trials and 9 observational studies. The maternal physical outcomes depending on participation in antenatal education were not significantly different; however, the caesarean birth rate was lower in the antenatal education group (relative risk, RR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.82–0.99), as was the use of epidural anaesthesia (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74–0.96). The maternal mental health outcomes of stress and self-efficacy significantly improved in the antenatal education group, although there was no difference in anxiety and depression. The foetal outcomes of birth weight or gestational age at birth were also not different between the groups. Conclusion: Antenatal education can reduce maternal stress, improve self-efficacy, lower the caesarean birth rate, and decrease the use of epidural anaesthesia; however, there is limited evidence of its effects on maternal or foetal physical outcomes. Therefore, antenatal education should be standardised to elucidate its actual mental and physical health effects.
KW - Antenatal care
KW - Antenatal education
KW - Foetal outcome
KW - Maternal outcome
KW - Pregnancy outcome
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85083828648&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.wombi.2020.04.002
DO - 10.1016/j.wombi.2020.04.002
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85083828648
SN - 1871-5192
VL - 34
SP - 219
EP - 230
JO - Women and Birth
JF - Women and Birth
IS - 3
ER -