Poor knowledge about gestational weight gain limits provision of counselling by maternity care providers: A systematic review

摘要

Background/Aims: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) is associatedwith a number of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women receivingappropriate weight gain advice from their maternity care provider aremore likely to gain weight within recommended ranges. Evidence suggeststhat relatively few women receive appropriate counselling. This studyaimed to explore factors that influence whether information on appropriateGWG is provided to pregnant women by midwives and other maternitycare providers.Methods: A systematic literature review using Scopus,Web of Science andMedline databases (2004-2014) was conducted in May 2014. PeerreviewedEnglish language studies from western countries exploringmaternity care providers’ knowledge of and practices related to GWG wereincluded.Results: Twenty one studies were included. Maternity care providersbelieved GWG to be an important obstetric issue but lacked knowledgeregarding correct body mass index classification and appropriate GWGtargets. Inadequate knowledge of GWG was cited as a frequent barrier tothe provision of counselling. Providers with a high self-perceivedknowledge of GWG were more likely to include this topic in their counsellingof pregnant women. To improve GWG knowledge maternity careproviders expressed a desire for further training and education. Interactiveproblem based learning was cited as a favourable model for futureeducation.Conclusions: Maternity care providers may refrain from offering, or provideincorrect, GWG advice, due to an inadequate understanding of thetopic. Further understanding of this relationship and other barriers thatmay prevent provision of weight gain counselling is needed.