The practice of pregnancy options counseling in social service and healthcare settings in the United States: a systematic literature review

Introduction: The purpose of this systematic literature was to summarize the literature on pregnancy options counseling for women and patients who experience an unintended pregnancy across healthcare and social service settings.

Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review using the PRISMA Checklist. Following the literature search of 8 electronic databases, we used a three-stage search process to screen articles for inclusion.

Results: A total of 20 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria for this study. Half (n = 10) of the articles reviewed were empirical studies utilizing quantitative or qualitative methodology while the other half (n = 10) were conceptual or non-empirical. The articles affirmed a shared definition of pregnancy options counseling, but terminology differences were noted over time. Lastly, variations of intervention practices appeared across practice settings, with referral practice variations being the most notable.

Conclusion: Pregnancy options counseling practices varied across settings, suggesting patients who received this intervention may not have accessed equitable or ethical care.