Objectives

Women and birthing people affected by deprivation have poorer experiences and health outcomes in maternity services, which is reflected in national maternity mortality reports (Felker et al 2024). This literature review will explore the perinatal experiences of this marginalised demographic with a view to making recommendations to enhance equitability and equality in future maternity services.

Methodology

A literature search across three databases — CINAHL, British Nursing Index (BNI) and Maternity and Infant Care (MIC) — in addition to snowballing techniques, was undertaken with application of the search terms, and inclusion and exclusion criteria, for articles published between 2010 and 2024 followed by thematic analysis.

Results

Nine articles were suitable for inclusion, from which three themes were identified: community support, personalised care, and agency and autonomy.

Conclusion

Vast variations in the experiences of deprivation highlighted the impact of multiple disadvantages for women and birthing people. Positive experiences were associated with community integrated continuity of care, in addition to individualised and personalised approaches; adverse experiences were associated with systematic exclusion, stigma and coercion. Migrants, refugees and asylum-seeking women reported distinctly adverse experiences of destitution.