Maternal Health Experiences and Health Care Utilization of African Immigrant Women: A Review of The Literature

Migration is an important social determinant of health that can greatly affect health outcomes. Despite the advances in maternal and child health in the United States, women who migrate from Africa to the United States from low or middle-income countries often face maternal healthcare challenges. The maternal healthcare utilization of African immigrant women is important as pregnancy often constitutes a period of increased vulnerability for adverse health outcomes. African immigrant women experience adverse maternal health outcomes following their migration which is not explained by maternal risk factors alone. Therefore, there is a critical need to understand the maternal health experiences and healthcare utilization for African immigrant women. This systematic review summarized research on the maternal health experiences of African immigrant women and how these experiences facilitate or hinder the use of maternal health services.