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Cited by 129Maternal and Neonatal HealthcareGlobal Maternal and Child HealthMaternal and Perinatal Health Interventions

Postpartum Visit Attendance in the United States: A Systematic Review

Open access
Attanasio, Laura B., Ranchoff, Brittany L., Cooper, Michael I., Geissler, Kimberley H.·2022·Women's Health Issues
DOI 10.1016/j.whi.2022.02.002PMC PMC9283204
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Abstract

Introduction Adequate postpartum care, including the comprehensive postpartum visit, is critical for long-term maternal health and the reduction of maternal mortality, particularly for people who may lose insurance coverage postpartum. However, variation in previous estimates of postpartum visit attendance in the United States makes it difficult to assess rates of attendance and associated characteristics.Methods We conducted a systematic review of estimates of postpartum visit attendance. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and Web of Science for articles published in English from 1995 to 2020 using search terms to capture postpartum visit attendance and use in the United States.Results Eighty-eight studies were included in this analysis. Postpartum visit attendance rates varied substantially, from 24.9% to 96.5%, with a mean of 72.1%. Postpartum visit attendance rates were higher in studies using patient self-report than those using administrative data. The number of articles including an estimate of postpartum visit attendance increased considerably over the study period; the majority were published in 2015 or later.Conclusions Our findings suggest that increased systematic data collection efforts aligned with postpartum care guidelines and attention to postpartum visit attendance rates may help to target policies to improve maternal wellbeing. Most estimates indicate that a substantial proportion of women do not attend at least one postpartum visit, potentially contributing to maternal morbidity as well as preventing a smooth transition to future well-woman care. Estimates of current postpartum visit attendance are important for informing efforts that seek to increase postpartum visit attendance rates and to improve the quality of care.

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  • Both the intervention and control groups had postpartum visit attendance rates higher than the nationally reported average of 72%.

    “Both the intervention and control groups demonstrated equally high attendance rates, which were higher than the nationally reported average of 72%.”

    From Care utilization and clinical outcomes among high-risk patients enrolled in a postpartum navigation program: a retrospective matched cohort study (2026) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Results report a mean postpartum visit attendance rate of 72.1% across 82 studies, supporting the approximately 72% comparison figure. They do not establish it as a nationally representative average; the Discussion notes that few included studies were population-based. The intervention and control group rates are the citing study’s own findings, not findings attributed to this review. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Despite guidelines, most patients receive only the traditional, single visit around 6 weeks postpartum, and up to 40% fail to attend this appointment.

    “Despite these guidelines, most patients receive only the traditional, single visit around 6 weeks postpartum, and up to 40% fail to attend this appointment, 13 -15 leaving potentially critical maternal health conditions unaddressed.”

    From Care utilization and clinical outcomes among high-risk patients enrolled in a postpartum navigation program: a retrospective matched cohort study (2026) · cites this paper as [14]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) reports an estimate that about 60% attend a postpartum visit, consistent with up to 40% not attending, but it also notes substantially varying estimates. Neither that passage nor the Results establishes that most patients receive only a single visit around six weeks postpartum; the review measures attendance at a postpartum visit, not the number of visits patients receive. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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  • A significant proportion of postpartum women do not attend any postpartum visits.

    “It is well‐established that a significant proportion of postpartum women do not attend any postpartum visits [63].”

    From Factors associated with postpartum depression symptoms following antepartum hospitalization (2026) · cites this paper as [63]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Daw JR, Kozhimannil KB, & Admon LK (2019). High Rates of Perinatal Insurance Churn Persist After the ACA. Retrieved October 18, 2021, from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190913.387157/full/ · DOI

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Authors
Attanasio, L. B., Ranchoff, B. L., Cooper, M. I., & Geissler, K. H.
Affiliations
University of Massachusetts Amherst (US)
Corresponding author
Attanasio, Laura B.
ORCID
Venue
Women's Health Issues
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-07
Volume
32
Issue
4
Pages
369-375
ISSN
1049-3867 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.whi.2022.02.002
PMC
PMC9283204
OpenAlex
W4221127606
Cited by
127
References
20
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 5
FWCI
4.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Women s Health Issues (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R56HL151636)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Global Maternal and Child Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Keywords
postpartum visit attendance, postpartum care, maternal health, maternal mortality, patient self-report, administrative data, maternal morbidity, well-woman care, quality of care
MeSH terms
Maternal Health, Female, Humans, Postnatal Care, Pregnancy, United States, Insurance Coverage, Postpartum Period

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