Prenatal rehabilitation: A concept analysis

AimTo establish and clarify the concept of 'prenatal rehabilitation' within maternal health management by identifying its defining attributes, antecedents and consequences.DesignA concept analysis.MethodsWalker and Avant's concept analysis method was employed to identify the antecedents, attributes and consequences of prenatal rehabilitation.Data sourcesComprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Medline, CINAHL, CNKI, VIP, WanFang and CBM databases from their inception to November 2024. Dictionary sources, grey literature and manual reference checks were also utilised to capture diverse perspectives related to 'prenatal rehabilitation'.ResultsA total of 34 studies were included. Five defining attributes of prenatal rehabilitation were identified: (1) dual therapeutic and preventive functions, (2) proactive and dynamic integrated interventions, (3) focus on specific physiological needs during pregnancy, (4) goal-oriented towards functional recovery and birth readiness and (5) foundation and facilitation for postpartum rehabilitation. Antecedents included pregnancy-induced dysfunction and discomfort, individual characteristics and external resources. Consequences were improved maternal outcomes, better neonatal health indicators and decreased utilisation of healthcare resources.ConclusionA clarifying definition and conceptual model of prenatal rehabilitation was developed, highlighting its proactive, personalised and multidisciplinary nature in promoting maternal health management. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for clinical practice and future research.