Addressing the U.S. maternal health crisis
A systematic review of healthcare access barriers, disparate outcomes, and effective interventions
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22070157 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mohammad Najeh Samara (Binghamton University), Kimberly Harry (Binghamton University), Aish Barua (Binghamton University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1814063-1814063 |
| Publication date | 2026-04-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1814063 |
| PMID | 42110288 |
| OpenAlex | W7155418624 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 63 |
Background: The United States faces a profound maternal health crisis despite its global economic standing, with maternal mortality rates significantly higher than other high-income countries and stark disparities across racial and ethnic lines. This systematic literature review aims to synthesize current evidence on barriers to maternal healthcare access, resulting health outcomes, and effective interventions for reducing disparities. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and ProQuest for literature published January 2000 and December 2024. The initial search yielded 122,756 records, which were narrowed to 44 studies for final synthesis after applying inclusion/exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis identified patterns related to barriers, outcomes, and interventions in maternal healthcare. Results: The systematic search identified 44 studies for synthesis. Analysis revealed five major barrier categories affecting maternal healthcare access: financial (24 references), systematic (34 references), educational (6 references), geographical (17 references), and comorbidity-related (1 reference). These barriers contributed to concerning disparities in maternal health outcomes, with Black women experiencing mortality rates 3-4 times higher than White women. Promising interventions included safety net providers (such as community health centers, mental health teams), culturally sensitive approaches, healthcare workers (doulas, translators), predictive models, special initiatives, and policy changes (Medicaid expansion, telehealth). Conclusion: Addressing the U.S. maternal health crisis requires coordinated action targeting multifaceted barriers and implementing evidence-based interventions. Recommendations include expanding Medicaid coverage beyond the current postpartum limit, implementing approaches addressing social determinants of health, integrating diverse healthcare workers into maternal care teams, and prioritizing culturally sensitive, patient-informed care while actively addressing systematic barriers, particularly racism and discrimination
Call to action · Ethnic group · Health care · Health equity · Medicaid · Psychological intervention · Social determinants of health · Systematic review · Thematic analysis · Global Maternal and Child Health · Healthcare Policy and Management · Migration, Health and Trauma · Health Policy
Pico, Picos and SPIDER
Reducing Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality
The PRISMA 2020 statement
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses
A Systematic Policy Review of Black Maternal Health-Related Policies Proposed Federally and in Massachusetts
A Participatory, State–Community–Academic Model to Improve Pregnancy Outcomes in Texas
The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers
Assessing Social Determinants of Health in a Prenatal and Perinatal Cultural Intervention for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Improving the Maternity Care Safety Net
Disparities in Pregnancy Healthcare Utilization Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women in Rhode Island
Prenatal and Postpartum Care Disparities in a Large Medicaid Program
Determinants of Severe Maternal Morbidity and Its Racial/Ethnic Disparities in New York City, 2008–2012
Doula Services Within a Healthy Start Program
Implications of Social Determinants of Health Characteristics on Fetal Growth Restriction Among Various Racial/Ethnic Groups
Community-Level Factors are Predictors of Severe Maternal Morbidity Among American Indian and Alaska Native Pregnant People in the Pacific Northwest in a Multilevel Logistic Regression
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Severe Maternal Morbidity
Structural racism and adverse maternal health outcomes
Amphetamine- and Opioid-Affected Births
Black/African American Women's Woes
Social Determinants of Health Among Pregnant Hispanic Women and Associated Psychological Outcomes
Maternal Differences and Birth Outcome Disparities
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |