Impact of Antenatal Education on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

Abstract

Antenatal education is a cornerstone of maternal healthcare, providing expectant mothers with knowledge, skills, and psychosocial support necessary for safe pregnancy, childbirth, and early neonatal care. This systematic review evaluates the impact of antenatal education programs on maternal and neonatal outcomes, including maternal knowledge, birth preparedness, self-efficacy, delivery complications, and neonatal health indicators. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Twenty-six studies were included, encompassing randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, cohort studies, and systematic reviews. The review indicates that antenatal education significantly improves maternal knowledge, birth preparedness, and self-efficacy, reduces anxiety and fear related to childbirth, increases rates of facility-based deliveries, and contributes to better neonatal outcomes such as improved birth weight, early initiation of breastfeeding, and reduced neonatal complications. Barriers such as low literacy, cultural beliefs, limited access, and inadequate program content were identified. Strengthening antenatal education programs, integrating culturally appropriate approaches, and expanding access can significantly enhance maternal and neonatal outcomes globally.