Abstract
Introduction
Adequate postpartum care, including the comprehensive postpartum visit, is critical
for long-term maternal health and the reduction of maternal mortality, particularly
for people who may lose insurance coverage postpartum. However, variation in previous
estimates of postpartum visit attendance in the United States makes it difficult to
assess rates of attendance and associated characteristics.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review of estimates of postpartum visit attendance. We searched
PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Web of Science for articles published in English from
1995 to 2020 using search terms to capture postpartum visit attendance and use in
the United States.
Results
Eighty-eight studies were included in this analysis. Postpartum visit attendance rates
varied substantially, from 24.9% to 96.5%, with a mean of 72.1%. Postpartum visit
attendance rates were higher in studies using patient self-report than those using
administrative data. The number of articles including an estimate of postpartum visit
attendance increased considerably over the study period; the majority were published
in 2015 or later.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that increased systematic data collection efforts aligned with
postpartum care guidelines and attention to postpartum visit attendance rates may
help to target policies to improve maternal wellbeing. Most estimates indicate that
a substantial proportion of women do not attend at least one postpartum visit, potentially
contributing to maternal morbidity as well as preventing a smooth transition to future
well-woman care. Estimates of current postpartum visit attendance are important for
informing efforts that seek to increase postpartum visit attendance rates and to improve
the quality of care.
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Biography
Laura B. Attanasio, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in Health Policy and Management, Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research examines issues of quality, equity, and decision making in perinatal health care.
Biography
Brittany L. Ranchoff, MPH, is a doctoral student in Health Policy and Management, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research interests include access to care, perinatal experiences, and health outcomes and utilization in the perinatal period.
Biography
Michael I. Cooper, BBA, is a medical student at Tufts University School of Medicine and a Departmental Assistant in the Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst. His research interests include health care quality, delivery, and policy.
Biography
Kimberley H. Geissler, PhD, is an Associate Professor in Health Policy and Management, Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her research examines factors affecting access to and coordination of health care.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 15, 2022
Accepted:
February 4,
2022
Received in revised form:
January 31,
2022
Received:
August 13,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health, George Washington University. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
