These researchers reviewed the literature on antenatal care and care during labour and delivery for Māori, as well as accounts detailing Māori experiences, with particular reference to access and knowledge gaps. They also considered the links between access to care and health outcomes for Māori babies from a life course perspective. The paper reports that many gaps exist in our knowledge of antenatal, labour and delivery care, and birth outcomes for Māori. What is known is that, compared to other women, Māori women have much greater maternity care needs and that also, inequalities in birth outcomes between Māori and non-Māori persist. This review highlights the need to better understand the extent, causes of, and how to address ethnic inequalities in receipt of antenatal, labour, and delivery care. The reviewers go on to advise that research is also required to understand the causes of inequalities in birth outcomes for Māori, and what constitutes optimal antenatal care for Māori from a life course perspective.
