Health care experiences and expectations of individuals in high-income countries with severe maternal morbidity: A systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative research.

Journal article

A. Hicks, D.J. Atkinson, M. Bertram, R. D’Souza, R. Deol, D. Ihsan, G. Muraca, D. Rice, T. Robinson, J. Tseng, M. Butt, M. Vanstone, S.M. Jack
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Cite

APA Click to copy
Hicks, A., Atkinson, D. J., Bertram, M., D’Souza, R., Deol, R., Ihsan, D., … Jack, S. M. Health care experiences and expectations of individuals in high-income countries with severe maternal morbidity: A systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative research. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

Chicago/Turabian Click to copy
Hicks, A., D.J. Atkinson, M. Bertram, R. D’Souza, R. Deol, D. Ihsan, G. Muraca, et al. “Health Care Experiences and Expectations of Individuals in High-Income Countries with Severe Maternal Morbidity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Aggregation of Qualitative Research.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (n.d.).

MLA Click to copy
Hicks, A., et al. “Health Care Experiences and Expectations of Individuals in High-Income Countries with Severe Maternal Morbidity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Aggregation of Qualitative Research.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

BibTeX Click to copy

@article{hicks-a,
  title = {Health care experiences and expectations of individuals in high-income countries with severe maternal morbidity: A systematic review and meta-aggregation of qualitative research.},
  journal = {BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth},
  author = {Hicks, A. and Atkinson, D.J. and Bertram, M. and D’Souza, R. and Deol, R. and Ihsan, D. and Muraca, G. and Rice, D. and Robinson, T. and Tseng, J. and Butt, M. and Vanstone, M. and Jack, S.M.}
}

Article summary

This systematic review of 57 qualitative studies examined the healthcare experiences of individuals with severe maternal morbidity in high-income countries. It found that many reported negative care experiences, including dismissal of concerns, lack of involvement in decision-making, and instances of obstetric violence, racism, and discrimination. Experiences were often described as traumatic, with lasting mental health impacts and distress from separation from newborns. Although patients expressed gratitude for life-saving care, they highlighted gaps in communication, trust, postpartum support, and care coordination. Overall, the review emphasizes the need to address systemic issues and improve respectful, patient-centered maternity care.