The Effectiveness of Continuity of Care in Improving Postpartum Maternal Care
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59680/ventilator.v3i4.2397Keywords:
Continuity Of Care, Maternal Health, Midwifery, Postnatal Care, PostpartumAbstract
The postpartum period is a decisive phase in the maternal continuum, because the first weeks after birth determine whether women recover safely, establish breastfeeding, recognise danger signs, and regain physical and psychological well-being. Yet postpartum care remains fragmented in many settings, with discontinuity between pregnancy, birth, and postnatal services. This systematic literature review examined the effectiveness of continuity of care in improving postpartum maternal care, focusing on maternal outcomes, breastfeeding, psychosocial well-being, care experience, and service quality. The review was prepared using PRISMA 2020 reporting principles and a structured search of publications indexed between 2021 and 2025 in major health databases and authoritative institutional sources. Studies discussing midwifery continuity, caseload care, team continuity, and integrated postnatal follow-up were screened and narratively synthesised. The evidence consistently showed that continuity of care was associated with better postpartum service engagement, stronger breastfeeding outcomes, greater maternal satisfaction, improved emotional support, and lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Several studies also reported lower intervention rates during labour and better neonatal indicators, which indirectly supported healthier postpartum recovery. However, effectiveness depended on relational continuity, manageable caseloads, interdisciplinary referral pathways, and supportive health systems. This review concludes that continuity of care is an effective strategy for improving postpartum maternal care and should be strengthened through midwife-led, woman-centred, and integrated care models, especially in settings where routine postnatal care is still fragmented or underutilised.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Kristina Maharani, Ellyzabeth Sukmawati
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