Project Summary
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to develop a systematic evidence review on postpartum care for women up to one year after birth. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) plans to use this systematic evidence review to develop related clinical guidelines.
Over the past few decades, maternal mortality and morbidity has increased steadily in the United States, with large, persistent disparities by race and ethnicity, particularly among Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women. Half of the more than 700 annual deaths related to pregnancy or pregnancy complications are considered preventable. In addition, as many as 60,000-70,000 US women experience some type of severe maternal morbidity annually; furthermore, it has been estimated that these women have a twofold increase in mortality in the postpartum period and beyond compared to women who experience no complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maternal Mortality Review Committees estimate that over half of maternal deaths occur postpartum: 1-6 days postpartum (19 percent), 7-42 days postpartum (21 percent), and 43-365 days postpartum (12 percent). Despite the increased risk of postpartum mortality and morbidity, a surprisingly large number of women (40 percent to 50 percent), regardless of whether they experienced complications of pregnancy or not, do not receive routine care after birth from a medical provider.
Postpartum care encompasses a range of important maternal health needs, including recovery from childbirth, health maintenance, follow-up on pregnancy complications, management of chronic health conditions, counselling for healthy birth spacing, access to contraception, and addressing mental health conditions. The extent of postpartum care may vary significantly, depending on where a woman receives it (e.g., access to high quality care, social and political policies, healthcare institutions, and birth setting), who provides it (e.g., education, training, practice, implicit bias, and communication), or her level of healthcare coverage (e.g., Medicaid, private, uninsured). Although postpartum care has traditionally centered around one clinical visit six to eight weeks after delivery, the paradigm has recently shifted to acknowledge that postpartum care is ongoing rather than a one-time event and best when tailored to each woman’s needs. Current recommendations from ACOG suggest an interaction with the obstetrician/gynecologist or other obstetric care provider within the first three weeks postpartum, followed up with ongoing care as needed, and concluding with a comprehensive postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth. Furthermore, ACOG recommends that women with chronic medical conditions (e.g., hypertensive disorders, obesity, diabetes, thyroid disorders, renal disease, and mood disorders) be counseled regarding the importance of timely follow-up with their obstetrician/gynecologists or primary care providers for ongoing coordination of care. These recommendations have been endorsed by several other professional colleges and societies including the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, the Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
To date, no systematic review has comprehensively assessed whether strategies around postpartum healthcare delivery increase appropriate postpartum healthcare utilization and maternal well-being. A handful of reviews has focused on specific aspects of postpartum healthcare delivery, including predictors of postpartum healthcare utilization among minority populations; face-to-face interactions between healthcare providers and postpartum women with low-risk pregnancies; schedules for home visits in the early postpartum period among women with low-risk pregnancies; and the impact of collaborative care models on women with depression, including pregnant and postpartum women. None of these reviews, however, has sought to synthesize the totality of the evidence on this topic. The goal of this review is to identify and describe studies and strategies which seek to improve utilization of postpartum care and maternal health outcomes in the United States.
Key Questions
Key Question 1: What healthcare delivery strategies affect postpartum healthcare utilization and improve maternal outcomes within 1 year postpartum?
- Do the healthcare delivery strategies affect postpartum healthcare utilization and improve maternal outcomes within 3 months postpartum? Does this relationship differ by timing of outcomes, specifically within 6 days postpartum, between 1 to 6 weeks postpartum, and between 6 weeks and 3 months postpartum?
- Do the healthcare delivery strategies affect postpartum healthcare utilization and improve maternal outcomes between 3 months and 1 year postpartum?
Key Question 2: Does extension of health insurance coverage or improvements in access to healthcare affect postpartum healthcare utilization and improve maternal outcomes within 1 year postpartum?