Healthcare-seeking behaviours among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Asia: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) significantly contribute to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite medical advancements, healthcare-seeking behaviours (HSBs) remain a key factor influencing maternal health outcomes, particularly in Asia's diverse cultural and economic contexts.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review maps key patterns, determinants, and barriers associated with HSBs among women with HDP in Asia and identifies gaps to guide future research and practice.

METHODS

Following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across six databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and ProQuest, supplemented by hand-searching of relevant sources. The search targeted studies published between 2014 and July 2024, with the final search conducted in June 2024 to capture early-access and in-press articles. Two independent reviewers conducted the screening and data extraction using Covidence, with any discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Thematic analysis was employed to synthesise findings, and the methodological quality of included studies was appraised using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diverse Studies (QuADS).

RESULTS

Of 2,280 articles screened, only six met the inclusion criteria, highlighting a critical gap in research. Barriers such as financial constraints, cultural norms, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure contributed to delayed care-seeking.

CONCLUSION

Maternal healthcare-seeking behaviours for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Asia are influenced by cultural beliefs, limited health literacy, household dynamics, and systemic barriers. Addressing these challenges requires culturally tailored, community-driven interventions and improved access to respectful, quality maternal care to reduce HDP-related morbidity and mortality.