Barriers and facilitators to healthy gestational weight gain amongst pregnant women from ethnic minority groups: A systematic search and narrative synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Excessive weight gain can be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of both mother and child. There is evidence that women from ethnic minority groups are more likely to gain excessive weight during pregnancy. For the purpose of this review, ethnic minority women are defined as those with different national or cultural traditions from the main population. AIM: Our aim was to identify barriers and facilitators to healthy gestational weight gain in pregnant women in ethnic minority groups. METHODS: Databases searched were MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and PsycArticles between 2011 and 2022. Inclusion criteria were empirical studies of any method considering gestational weight gain in ethnic minority women published in English. Data were extracted according to aim, participants, methods, and findings in relation to barriers and facilitators. Included papers were assessed for quality according to relevant Joanna Briggs Institute checklists. FINDINGS: Twenty-six studies were identified. Five themes were revealed: (1) knowledge and beliefs, (2) cultural and social influences, (3) confidence, (4) physical experiences, and (5) personal and environmental factors. DISCUSSION: Some barriers and facilitators were relevant to all groups and others were more specific to ethnic minority groups. The latter included social and cultural influences, which were reported extensively. Our search was comprehensive, although it is possible we may not have captured all relevant papers. CONCLUSION: We recommend that the barriers and facilitators identified here are considered in designing future, or adjusting current, health care practitioner mediated interventions to support healthy gestational weight gain in ethnic minority women.

Midwives' experiences of supporting healthy gestational weight management: A mixed methods systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Excessive levels of gestational weight gain (GWG) are linked with poorer health outcomes for mother and baby, including an increased risk of pregnancy-related hypertension, labour induction, caesarean delivery and increased birth weight. OBJECTIVE: To explore literature relating to midwives' experiences and challenges and identify interventions relating to GWG. DESIGN: This review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews. CINAHL complete, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE were systematically searched in May 2022. Search terms related to midwives, advice, weight management and experiences were used. A PRISMA approach was taken to identify data, and thematic analysis combined with descriptive statistics allowed synthesis and integration. FINDINGS: Fifty-seven papers were included and three overarching themes were generated; i) emotion and weight, ii) ability to influence and iii) practical challenges and strategies for success. Weight was consistently described as a sensitive topic. Challenges included level of expertise and comfort, perceptions of ability to influence and an awareness of incongruence of midwives' own weight and the advice they are delivering. Interventions evaluated well with some self-reports of improved knowledge and confidence. There was no evidence of impact on practice or GWG. KEY CONCLUSIONS: Although addressing maternal weight gain is an international priority due to the significant risks incurred, in this review we have identified multiple challenges for midwives to support women in healthy weight management. Identified interventions targeting midwives do not directly address the challenges identified and are therefore likely to be insufficient to improve existing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Partnership working and co-creation with women and midwives is essential to ensure knowledge about maternal weight gain is effectively shared across communities to catalyse change.

A Systematic Review of Women's Experiences of Interventions to Prevent Excessive Gestational Weight Gain.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize research on women's experiences of interventions to prevent excessive gestational weight gain. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of the following databases was conducted: CINAHL Complete, Maternity and Infant Care Database, American Psychological Association PsycArticles, American Psychological Association PsycInfo, and MEDLINE. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if they involved primary research regarding the experiences of women who were pregnant or up to 1 year postpartum when reflecting on their involvement in interventions to prevent excessive weight gain during pregnancy. Nonempirical studies and those that examined the experiences of women who were not pregnant or who were beyond 1 year postpartum were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Information was extracted and captured in a summary table that included the study aim, participants, study design, intervention, findings, and summary score, with exceptions to quality. DATA SYNTHESIS: Data were synthesized thematically into three themes: (a) Intervention Qualities Valued by Women, (b) Challenges Faced by Women, and (c) Perceived Benefits and Recommendations for Modifications. CONCLUSION: Interventions intended to help women prevent excessive gestational weight gain should be tailored to individuals' unique needs to ensure that the interventions are acceptable and effective.