Enabling Access to Enhanced Care Models for Vulnerable Women

Enhanced care models (ECMs) for childbearing women, people and families who face vulnerabilities can help to improve clinical outcomes and experiences. To optimise utilisation of these ECMs requires maternity services to address access to care barriers and adopt enablers. In this Research Unwrapped a systematic review by Bowden, et al., is critically appraised. The systematic review aimed to assess whether care-seeking interventions increase utilisation of services during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period (up to six weeks), and improve outcomes for women living with vulnerabilities and their babies in high-income countries. Unwrapping the review identified methodological limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results. Expanding from the findings of the review, implications for practice focused on the United Kingdom (UK) context as well as recommendations for future research are highlighted.