Barriers to perinatal care among pregnant South Asian immigrants living in Canada: A scoping review protocol

Document Type

Article

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant South Asian immigrants (PSAIs) in Canada experience unique barriers to accessing culturally and linguistically sensitive perinatal care. These barriers make the pregnancy journey particularly stressful and contribute to poor maternal and fetal health outcomes. Despite Canada’s growing South Asian population, there is limited understanding of their healthcare needs and a lack of research on how best to support PSAIs in Canada. This review seeks to address this gap by providing a comprehensive understanding of the needs of PSAIs related to perinatal care, the barriers they face when accessing perinatal care in Canada, and the available interventions and programs to support PSAIs. Material and Methods: This review will follow the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. Reporting will adhere to the PRISMA-ScR and PRISMA-Equity guidelines. A comprehensive search of the literature will be undertaken in EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CINAHL, including studies published in English up to July 30, 2025, that examine prenatal care among PSAIs in Canada. Two reviewers will independently perform study screening, data extraction, and synthesis. Inductive thematic approach will be used to analyse results and to identify patterns, themes, and insights across the included studies. Discussion: This review aims to offer researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive understanding of the barriers PSAIs face in accessing maternity care in Canada. Additionally, it will synthesize evidence on existing interventions and support programs designed to improve perinatal care outcomes for PSAIs, offering insights into potential areas for future research and policy development. Plain language summary: When pregnant South Asian immigrant women in Canada seek maternity care, they often face cultural, language, and systemic barriers. These challenges can make the pregnancy experience more stressful and may negatively affect both maternal and fetal health outcomes. Despite the growing South Asian population in Canada, there is limited understanding of their healthcare needs and a lack of research on the most effective ways to support them. This scoping review will examine all published studies that address the perinatal care experiences of pregnant South Asian immigrants in Canada. It will identify unique needs of this population, the barriers they encounter when accessing care, and the interventions or programs that have been implemented to improve care and support. By synthesizing this evidence, the review aims to offer researchers, clinicians, and decision makers with a comprehensive understanding of current gaps and effective strategies, helping to guide future research, program development, and policies to improve perinatal care for pregnant South Asian immigrants.

AKU Student

no

Publication (Name of Journal)

Reproductive Health

DOI

10.1186/s12978-025-02211-x

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