Social Determinant of Housing Instability and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review.

Background: We conducted a scoping review to examine the literature regarding pregnancy-related morbidities among birthing individuals and infants experiencing housing instability (HI).

Methods: Articles were identified through electronic database searches, using numerous search terms related to pregnancy and housing. US studies published in English between 1991 and 2019 were included. Peer-reviewed qualitative and quantitative articles were synthesized and critically appraised by 2 reviewers using quality appraisal tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Results: Inconsistent definitions for HI weakened the rigor of aggregate findings, and birthing individual outcomes were underreported compared with infant outcomes (n = 9 095 499 women, 11 articles). Many studies reported mental health-related outcomes among birthing individuals with HI.

Discussion: Study sampling approaches and lack of a standard definition of HI limit review findings, but examining this relationship is critical to understanding the effect of social determinants on birthing individual health. Future research should address the nescience regarding birthing individual outcomes in this population. Policy-level advocacy addressing social determinants must also refine policy impacting community-based prenatal programs and services for the birthing individual with HI.