The impact of antenatal telehealth services on maternal and neonatal outcomes, a comparison of results before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis (The impact of telehealth services on maternal and neonatal outcomes)

• Published in: Midwifery 2024-07, Vol.134, p.104017, Article 104017
• Main Authors: Kurnaz, Döndü, Şenoğlu, Ayşe, Karaçam, Zekiye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antenatal follow-up; Birth; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Meta-analysis; Neonatal; Pandemics - prevention & control; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome - epidemiology; Prenatal Care - methods; SARS-CoV-2; Systematic review; Telehealth; Telemedicine
• ISSN: 0266-6138; 1532-3099; 1532-3099
• DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2024.104017

•Antenatal monitoring via telehealth is as effective as face-to-face monitoring.•Telehealth services can be used and disseminated in antenatal follow-ups as a method that does not require physical contact, makes it easier to reach individuals, and one that does not produce an economic burden or a loss of time or labor.•The telehealth service model can be developed to be used in antenatal follow-ups and can be integrated into the antenatal healthcare system.•The telehealth care model, as seen in the COVID-19 pandemic, can help prevent the spread of the disease and facilitate the provision of antenatal care services by minimizing face-to-face interactions in situations where in-person care is not feasible.•The telehealth method can be employed in antenatal care services aimed at improving maternal and neonatal outcomes. This review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of antenatal follow-up using telehealth in the pre-COVID-19 and active pandemic periods. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Searches were conducted from inception to September 2023 through PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EBSCO, Embase, Web of Science, all via Ovid SP, the National Thesis Center, TR Index, Turkiye Clinics, and DergiPark Academic. Data were combined in the meta-analysis. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool and quality of evidence according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidelines. The meta-analysis examining the effectiveness of antenatal telehealth services included 35 studies with a total sample size of 16 033. The combined results of the studies revealed that antenatal telehealth services were similar to face-to-face follow-ups for many maternal and newborn health outcomes. Maternal outcomes included abortion, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, weight gain, hypertensive disorders, maternal hospitalization, number of antenatal follow-ups, use of induction, vaginal and instrumental delivery, planned and emergency cesarean section, shoulder dystocia, episiotomy, perineal laceration, childbirth under the supervision of qualified personnel, breastfeeding problems and postpartum depression. Neonatal outcomes included an APGAR score of