Objectives Miscarriage, defined in the UK as loss of pregnancy prior to 24 weeks gestation, can have long-term psychological implications. Clinical guidelines for perinatal bereavement care do not provide guidance on how best to support the mental health of women, and their partners, after miscarriage.
Peer support (support from those who share common characteristics) is often sought, but there is little understanding of its access and use. We conducted a systematic review to understand the barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of peer support to improve mental health outcomes for parents after miscarriage.
Design Systematic review and thematic synthesis. Data sources A comprehensive systematic search across nine databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science (all databases), EMBASE, CENTRAL, LENS.org, British Nursing Index and Health Management Information Consortium) was conducted in June 2025.
Grey literature was identified through website searching, contact with topic experts and a national Call for Evidence. Eligibility criteria Qualitative and mixed-methods studies exploring motivations, experiences and preferences for peer support after miscarriage were included.
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 03 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on Barriers and facilitators to implementation of peer support after miscarriage: a systematic review using thematic synthesis methods.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.