title: Community-based interventions for improving maternal health and for reducing maternal health inequalities in high-income countries: a systematic map of research.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This review is part of a European Commission project, MASCOT, aimed at reducing maternal and child health inequalities. The purpose was to identify and describe the literature on community-based interventions on maternal health in high-income countries (HIC) and conceptually map the literature according to country focus, topics addressed, nature of the intervention and the intervention provider, and interventions designed to address inequalities in maternal health.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research protocol for this review was based on a low-income country (LMIC) systematic review protocol within the MASCOT Project. We searched PubMED and CINAHL databases for literature published between January 2000 and April 2013. OECD countries were used to determine the HIC and different terms were used to refer to community based interventions, defined as those "delivered in community settings or any activities occurring outside of health facilities".
  
  
  RESULTS
  119 publications were selected for inclusion in this mapping study. 95 (80%) were Randomised Control Trials (RCTs) and 24 (20%) were systematic reviews (SRs). We categorised the study topics according to the main interventions covered: breastfeeding assistance and promotion, preventing and treating post-natal depression, interventions to support and build capacity around parenting and child care, antenatal interventions preparing women for birth, postnatal planning of future births and control trials around changing maternal behaviours. The home was used as the most common setting to implement these interventions and health professionals accounted for the largest group of intervention providers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review maps and brings knowledge on the type of studies and topics being addressed in community based interventions around maternal health in HICs. It opens the opportunity for further studies on interventions' effectiveness and knowledge transfer to LMICs settings.
authors.affiliation: Health Action Partnership International (HAPI), Unit 31A, Eurolinks Business Centre, 49 Effra Road, Brixton, London, SW2 1BZ, UK. martha.perry@hapi.org.uk.
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Council of Health Research and Development (COHRED), 1-5 Route des Morillons, PO Box 2100, 1211, Geneva 2, Switzerland. fcobecerra@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becerra
authors.affiliation: Institute of Education, University of London, 20 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AL, London, UK. J.Kavanagh@ioe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kavanagh
authors.affiliation: Euroquality, 2, Place de la Bourse, 33000, Bordeaux, France. angeline.serre@euroquality.fr.
authors.forename: Angéline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serre
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública), Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, C.P. 62100, Cuernavaca, Mor, México. emilymariavr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública), Av. Universidad No. 655 Colonia Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cerrada Los Pinos y Caminera, C.P. 62100, Cuernavaca, México. victor.becerril@insp.mx.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Becerril
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000600:supply & distribution; D019058:Community Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000628:therapy; D019049:Developed Countries; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D000068097:Maternal Health / Q000592:standards*; D064186:Prenatal Education