title: Women's maternity care needs and related service models in rural areas: A comprehensive systematic review of qualitative evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding the needs of rural women in maternity care and service models available to them is significant for the development of effective policies and the sustainability of rural communities. Nevertheless, no systematic review of studies addressing these needs has been conducted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To synthesise the best available evidence on the experiences of women's needs in maternity care and existing service models in rural areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search of ten electronic databases, digital theses, and reference lists of relevant studies applying inclusion/exclusion criteria was conducted. Selected papers were assessed using standardised critical appraisal instruments from JBI-QARI. Data extracted from these studies were synthesised using thematic synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  12 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were three main themes and several sub-themes identified. A comprehensive set of the maternity care expectations of rural women was reported in this review including safety (7), continuity of care (6) and quality of care (6), and informed choices needs (4). In addition, challenges in accessing maternity services also emerged from the literature such as access (6), risk of travelling (9) and associated cost of travel (9). Four models of maternity care examined in the literature were medically led care (5), GP-led care (4), midwifery-led care (7) and home birth (6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The systematic review demonstrates the importance of including well-conducted qualitative studies in informing the development of evidence-based policies to address women's maternity care needs and inform service models. Synthesising the findings from qualitative studies offers important insight for informing effective public health policy.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia. Electronic address: Thi.Hoang@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1372, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia. Electronic address: Quynh.Le@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Quynh
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1377, Launceston, Tasmania 7250, Australia. Electronic address: Kathryn.Ogden@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogden
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012424:Rural Population
keywords: Maternity and service quality; Maternity care; Maternity services; Models of care; Rural areas