Sharma Aditi, Huddy Vyv, Williamson Emma
University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK.
Br J Health Psychol. 2025 Sep;30(3):e70001. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.70001.
Little is known about South Asian (SA) women's experiences of maternity care in the United Kingdom (UK). Previous research has often grouped ethnic minority women as a homogenous group. Therefore, differences between ethnicities may not be sufficiently explored. Many SA women underutilize antenatal support offered by maternity services and are at an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, compared with White women. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to explore SA women and birthing people's experiences of maternity care in the UK.
Three databases were searched for published peer-reviewed qualitative studies. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative research was used to appraise the quality of included articles. Thomas and Harden's (BMC Medical Research Methodology, 2008, 8, 45) approach for thematic synthesis informed qualitative synthesis.
Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria. Four themes were developed '(in)ability to express maternity needs', 'uncompassionate relationships with maternity healthcare professionals', 'integrating maternity care with cultural identity', and 'family being a part of maternity care'.
This was an original review using a comprehensive search strategy with transparent reporting. Most SA women perceived difficulties with expressing maternity needs. Relational experiences with maternity care professionals were perceived as uncompassionate, discriminatory, and with varied sensitivity to their cultural identity. SA women viewed their maternity care to incorporate family. Research implications included an urgent need to increase the quality of ethical qualitative research focused on SA women/birthing people. Clinical implications included maternity healthcare professionals and systems to improve the relational experience with SA women/birthing people.
关于南亚（SA）女性在英国（UK）接受产科护理的经历，人们知之甚少。以往的研究常常将少数族裔女性归为一个同质化群体。因此，不同种族之间的差异可能未得到充分探究。与白人女性相比，许多南亚女性未充分利用产科服务提供的产前支持，且不良妊娠结局的风险增加。因此，本系统评价旨在探究南亚女性及分娩者在英国接受产科护理的经历。
检索了三个数据库，以查找已发表的同行评审定性研究。采用定性研究的批判性评估技能计划清单来评估纳入文章的质量。运用托马斯和哈登（《BMC医学研究方法》，2008年，第8卷，第45页）的主题综合方法进行定性综合。
12篇文章符合纳入标准。归纳出四个主题：“表达产科需求的（无）能力”、“与产科医护人员缺乏温情的关系”、“将产科护理与文化身份相结合”以及“家庭参与产科护理”。
这是一项采用全面检索策略并进行透明报告的原创性综述。大多数南亚女性认为在表达产科需求方面存在困难。与产科护理专业人员的关系体验被认为缺乏温情、带有歧视性，且对她们的文化身份敏感度各异。南亚女性认为她们的产科护理包含家庭因素。研究意义包括迫切需要提高针对南亚女性/分娩者的伦理定性研究质量。临床意义包括产科医护人员和系统应改善与南亚女性/分娩者的关系体验。
