Table 2.
Overview of bibliographic information, objectives, study design and population, and risk of bias in the included studies.
| Authors (Year) | Country | Objective | Study Design | Population: Ethnicity, SES Indicators, BMI | N | Risk of Bias |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson et al. (1995) [38] | UK | To test the response of pregnant women to dietary advice by comparing the nutrition knowledge, attitudinal variables to healthier eating and nutrient intake in a group of women receiving routine antenatal clinical dietary education and a group who also received a special intervention education program. | RCT | All SES levels | I: 141; C: 145 | Low |
| Ashman et al. (2016) [39] | Australia | To assess the relative validity of the SNAQ tool for analyzing dietary intake, compared by the nutrient analysis software, to describe the nutritional intake adequacy of pregnant participants, and to assess acceptability of dietary feedback via smartphone. | Formative evaluation | All born in Australia, 31% of Indigenous descent; mostly higher educated (54% university degree) | 27 | Moderate |
| Burr et al. (2007) [40] | UK | To examine the effectiveness of the two methods of increasing fruit and fruit juice intake in pregnancy—midwives’ advice and vouchers exchangeable for juice. | RCT | Lower SES population, attending antenatal clinic in a deprived area | 190 | Moderate |
| Dodd et al. (2018) [41] | Australia | To evaluate the impact of a smartphone application as an adjunct to standard face-to-face consultations in facilitating dietary and physical activity change among pregnant women with BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/m2. | RCT (nested) | Participants of two pregnancy nutrition-based RCTs; majority Caucasian (73%); all SES levels; overall 42.6% normal weight, 19.1% overweight, 38.3% obese | I1: 77; I2: 85 | Low |
| Evans et al. (2012) [42] | USA | To assess audience exposure, awareness, and cognitive and affective reactions to text4baby messages; and to identify direct effects of text4baby messages on maternal pre-natal care and related health attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral outcomes, and related health-promoting and risk-avoidance behaviors. | RCT | Majority Hispanic (80%); randomly sampled from a largely low-income population, participants mostly lower educated (76% ≤ High School education) | 123 | Moderate |
| Hearn et al. (2014) [43] | Australia | To determine online information needs of perinatal women regarding healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy weight during pregnancy and the first eighteen months postpartum. | Formative evaluation (qualitative) |
Majority higher SES levels | 2378 | Moderate |
| Hillesund et al. (2016) [44] | Norway | To investigate whether a lifestyle intervention during pregnancy offering supervised exercise groups and simplified dietary advice would optimize pregnancy weight gain and provide measurable health effects for mother and newborn. | RCT | All levels of education and household income; mean BMI intervention group 23.8 (4.1), control group 23.5 (3.7) | 508 | Low |
| Jackson et al. (2011) [45] | USA | To determine if an interactive, computerized Video Doctor counselling tool improves self-reported diet and exercise in pregnant women. | RCT | Majority Hispanic (39%) or African–American (24%); mostly higher educated (52% college and above); overall mean BMI 27.0, 44% overweight/obese | I: 163; C: 164 | Low |
| Kafatos et al. (1989) [46] | Greece | To assess dietary habits and the impact of nutrition education among pregnant women in the rural county of Florina, Northern Greece. | RCT | Majority lower SES (70–73%); mean BMI Intervention group 23.1 (0.2), control group 22.7 (0.2) | I: 300; C: 268 | Moderate |
| Mauriello et al. (2016) [47] | USA | To test an iPad-delivered multiple behavior tailored intervention (Healthy Pregnancy: Step-by-Step) for pregnant women that address smoking cessation, stress management, and fruit and vegetable consumption. | 2 x 5 factorial design | Majority Hispanic (65%); mostly lower educated (68% ≤ High School education), 51% unemployed | I: 169; C: 166 | Moderate |
| Mauriello et al. (2011) [48] | USA | To promote positive health behaviors during pregnancy among a low-income population, across multiple ethnic groups. | Formative evaluation | Majority Hispanic (46%) or white, non-Hispanic (32%); mostly lower educated (78% ≤ High School) | 87 | Moderate |
| Moniz et al. (2015) [49] | USA | To delineate the effects of texts messages sent to pregnant women to promote preventive health beliefs and behaviors. | RCT (nested) | Participants of an RCT to improve influenza vaccination rates; majority black (61%); mostly lower educated (80% ≤ High School) and lower household incomes | 171 | Moderate |
| Piirainen et al. (2016) [50] | Finland | To assess the impact of dietary counseling, combined with the provision of food products on food and nutrient intake in pregnant women. | RCT (nested) | Participants of a mother and infant nutrition and probiotic study; relatively high educated (47-52% university or college); 12% underweight, 61% normal weight; 21% overweight, 7% obese | 209 | Moderate |
| Rissel et al. (2019) [51] | Australia | To compare the outcomes of the two Get Healthy in Pregnancy (GHiP) options, to determine the characteristics of women likely to use the service and to explore the feedback from women and health professionals. | RCT (clustered, mixed methods) | Ethnicity and SES indicators not reported; intervention group 60.2% overweight/obese, control group 50.3% overweight/obese | I: 180; C: 146 | Moderate |
| Warren et al. (2017) [52] | UK | To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the ‘Eat Well Keep Active’ intervention program designed to promote healthy eating and physical activity in pregnant women. | Formative evaluation (qualitative) | All Caucasian; 90% employed (60% skilled); 70% normal weight, 30% overweight (obese women were excluded) | 20 | Low |
| Wilkinson & McIntyre (2012) [53] | Australia | To deliver a low-intensity, dietitian-led behavior change workshop at a Maternity Hospital, to influence behaviors with demonstrated health outcomes. | RCT | Women attending a Tertiary maternal health service; 99% non-indigenous; relatively high educated (39–43% degree/higher degree), majority employed (69-76%) and high household incomes; mean BMI Intervention group 25.4 (5.2), control group 24.6 (5.5) | I: 178; C: 182 | Low |
| Wilkinson et al. (2010) [54] | Australia | To evaluate the effectiveness of a women-focused, woman-held companion to usual obstetric care (the ‘Pregnancy Pocketbook’) for improving smoking cessation, fruit and vegetable intake, and PA, during pregnancy. | Formative evaluation | 95–97% non-indigenous; relatively many participants did not finish high school (24–33%), 47–55% employed, relatively many women with full time home duties (36–46%); majority high household incomes; mean BMI Intervention group 25.7 (6.0), control group 25.0 (5.7) | I: 140; C: 130 | Low |