Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions In Promoting Safe Motherhood: A Review

Abstract

Safe motherhood encompasses the continuum of care from preconception to postpartum, aiming to prevent avoidable maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Evidence shows that nurse-led interventions—spanning antenatal risk screening, respectful maternity care, birth preparedness counseling, complication readiness, skilled intrapartum support, early essential newborn care, and postnatal follow-up—substantially improve outcomes. This review synthesizes literature from 2010–2024 on evidence-based nursing practices promoting safe motherhood across diverse settings. Databases searched included PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science using terms related to nursing, safe motherhood, antenatal care, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care. Studies were included if nurses or midwives were primary implementers and outcomes related to maternal/newborn safety, utilization, or behavior change. Findings converge on five high-impact domains: (1) nurse-led antenatal education and risk screening increase timely ANC attendance, iron–folate adherence, and birth preparedness; (2) skilled, respectful intrapartum nursing care—including partograph use, active management of third stage of labor (AMTSL), and infection prevention—reduces labor complications and postpartum hemorrhage; (3) early essential newborn care (thermal care, immediate breastfeeding, delayed cord clamping) improves early neonatal outcomes; (4) postpartum continuity (home visits, danger-sign counseling, contraception counseling) enhances exclusive breastfeeding and postpartum family planning uptake; (5) digital and community-linked strategies (mHealth reminders, group ANC, community health worker–nurse collaboration) improve adherence and timely referral. Barriers include staffing shortages, supply gaps, and variable adherence to protocols; facilitators include continuous professional development, simulation training, audit-and-feedback, and supportive supervision. Overall, nurse-delivered, protocolized care integrated with respectful communication and continuity across the perinatal period is central to safe motherhood. Scaling requires investment in workforce capacity, quality assurance, and context-adapted implementation strategies.