Understanding care-seeking of pregnant women from underserved groups: a systematic review and meta-ethnography.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Delayed or reduced antenatal care use by pregnant women may result in poorer outcomes. 'Candidacy' is a synthetic framework which outlines how people's eligibility for healthcare is jointly negotiated. This meta-ethnography aimed to identify - through the lens of candidacy - factors affecting experiences of care-seeking during pregnancy by women from underserved communities in high-income countries (HICs).

Methods

Six electronic databases were systematically searched, extracting papers published from January 2018 to January 2023, updated to May 2025, and having relevant qualitative data from marginalized and underserved groups in HICs. Methodological quality of included papers was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. Meta-ethnography was used for

SUBMITTER: Dasgupta T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12677011 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature