Midwifery continuity of care in the Nordic countries : A scoping review protocol

Objective: To provide a protocol for a scoping review aimed to map, identify, analyze and describe studies on women and their infants receiving Midwifery Continuity of Care in the Nordic countries. AbstractIntroduction: Midwifery Continuity of Care (MCoC) throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period has been associated with improved outcomes and higher satisfaction of care among women. In the Nordic countries standard care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum is organized within primary care (private or regional), hospital care and fragmented with few different care options. The evidence regarding MCoC in the Nordic countries is scarce, in particular regarding targeted care for vulnerable women within a structured continuity of care model. Inclusion criteria: Original studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals with any study design from Nordic countries including Midwifery Continuity of Care will be included. Methods: Literature searches of electronic bibliographic databases will be conducted by an information specialist in CINAHL, PubMed, Embase.com, CENTRAL via Cochrane Library Online and PsycInfo. The results will be summarized in a findings table. An analysis will identify, describe, and categorize recurring patterns to provide a structured overview of key concepts.