Background

The World Health Organization has emphasized the critical role of prenatal care in achieving the Millennium Development Goals to reduce child and maternal mortality. The CenteringPregnancy program is a widely recognized model of prenatal care. Several countries have attempted to implement the program in prenatal care practice; however, its effectiveness on maternal and birth outcomes has not been systematically evaluated and analyzed.

Objectives

To determine the effect of the CenteringPregnancy program on improving maternal and birth outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and postpartum depression.

Design

This study evaluated and analyzed randomized controlled trials by comparing the CenteringPregnancy program with obstetric led prenatal care. Maternal and birth outcomes of interest included low birthweight, preterm birth, and postpartum depressive symptoms.

Data Sources

Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library were utilized in this systematic review. Additionally, a supplemental Google Scholar search was performed to capture all relevant articles.

Methods

All data were extracted independently by two trained researchers, who evaluated the quality of the study by examining the risk of bias. The biases of selection, allocation, measurement, reporting, and loss of follow-up were assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias for these included randomized controlled trials. A meta-analysis of eligible randomized controlled trials was conducted using Review Manager. Heterogeneity of studies was assessed using the I2 statistic.

Results

Out of 591 articles reviewed, seven randomized controlled trials were included in this study. Findings showed that the CenteringPregnancy program was not associated with lower rates of preterm birth (0.88 [0.71–1.07], p = 0.20, I2 = 0%), low birth weight (0.87 [0.68–1.12], p =0.29, I2 = 0%), or 12-month postpartum depressive symptoms (0.07 [-0.12–0.26], p =0.46, I2 = 69%). However, the CenteringPregnancy program was associated with reduced rates of 6-month postpartum depressive symptoms (0.49 [0.40–0.59], p < 0.01, I2 = 40%).

Conclusions

Existing evidence suggests that the CenteringPregnancy program and obstetric led care have similar effects on reducing the rates of preterm birth and low birth weight but different effects on postpartum depressive symptoms. More studies are needed to examine the effect of the CenteringPregnancy program on the improvement of postpartum depressive symptoms.