Interventions facilitating access to perinatal care for migrant women without medical insurance: a scoping review
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Nursing, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Saint-Jérôme, Québec, Canada
- 2Department of Nursing, Université d’Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- 3Library, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, Canada
- 4Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
- 5Jewish General Hospital and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Abstract
Introduction: Poor antenatal monitoring is associated with higher rates of maternal complications at delivery and serious threats to neonatal well-being. This scoping review intended to explore existing interventions and policies addressing access to perinatal care among pregnant migrant women without medical insurance (PMWMI). Additionally, it will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these interventions, as well as their associated costs. Materials and Methods: Using the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework – selected for its structured and widely used approach to mapping the breadth and nature of available evidence -, an electronic search was conducted across 11 databases for studies published between 2000 and 2025 in English or French. Grey literature was also examined. A total of 14 studies were included: 4 from Canada, 8 from the United States, 1 from Iran, and 1 from Thailand. Results: The gaps created by policy changes, such as the reduction of services, create a misleading perception of economic efficiency. While short-term savings may be evident, they often lead to greater expenses in the medium to long term. In a federal system of government, the financial burden is shifted to the states (or provinces), which are compelled to address the resulting shortfall. The findings indicate that these changes appear to be politically motivated rather than economically beneficial. Conclusion: This scoping review highlighted interventions that facilitate access to perinatal care for migrant women without medical insurance. As the first of its kind, the findings reveal significant policy shifts that jeopardize the health benefits of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, contributing to profound health disparities. Further, these individuals may forgo necessary medical treatment, preventive care, and routine check-ups due to fear of detection and deportation.
Related
- Perinatal mental health care: a multicountry comparison of migrant and non-migrant populations
- Effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and implementation of WHO psychological interventions for migrant populations resettled in Italy: study protocol for the ADVANCE hybrid type-I randomized controlled trial
- Unseen and underserved: A scoping review of perinatal mental health interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Global evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions for perinatal anxiety and depression
- Self-rated oral health among parents with and without a migrant background in Western Norway: associations with sociodemographic factors, dental care utilization, and dietary habits
BibTeX
@article{sia2026interventions,
title = {{Interventions facilitating access to perinatal care for migrant women without medical insurance: a scoping review}},
author = {Drissa Sia and Idrissa Beogo and Gisèle Mandiangu Ntanda and Eric Tchouaket Nguemeleu and Nebila Jean-Claude Bationo and Catherine Séguin and Geneviève Roch and Christina Greenaway},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0357487},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357487},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Interventions facilitating access to perinatal care for migrant women without medical insurance: a scoping review
AU - Drissa Sia
AU - Idrissa Beogo
AU - Gisèle Mandiangu Ntanda
AU - Eric Tchouaket Nguemeleu
AU - Nebila Jean-Claude Bationo
AU - Catherine Séguin
AU - Geneviève Roch
AU - Christina Greenaway
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/10
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0357487
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357487
AB - Introduction: Poor antenatal monitoring is associated with higher rates of maternal complications at delivery and serious threats to neonatal well-being. This scoping review intended to explore existing interventions and policies addressing access to perinatal care among pregnant migrant women without medical insurance (PMWMI). Additionally, it will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of these interventions, as well as their associated costs. Materials and Methods: Using the Arksey and O'Malley (2005) framework – selected for its structured and widely used approach to mapping the breadth and nature of available evidence -, an electronic search was conducted across 11 databases for studies published between 2000 and 2025 in English or French. Grey literature was also examined. A total of 14 studies were included: 4 from Canada, 8 from the United States, 1 from Iran, and 1 from Thailand. Results: The gaps created by policy changes, such as the reduction of services, create a misleading perception of economic efficiency. While short-term savings may be evident, they often lead to greater expenses in the medium to long term. In a federal system of government, the financial burden is shifted to the states (or provinces), which are compelled to address the resulting shortfall. The findings indicate that these changes appear to be politically motivated rather than economically beneficial. Conclusion: This scoping review highlighted interventions that facilitate access to perinatal care for migrant women without medical insurance. As the first of its kind, the findings reveal significant policy shifts that jeopardize the health benefits of undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, contributing to profound health disparities. Further, these individuals may forgo necessary medical treatment, preventive care, and routine check-ups due to fear of detection and deportation.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -