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Open research questions in Maternal and fetal healthcare

222 gap statements mined from Maternal and fetal healthcare papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,960 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • Further studies could investigate the predictive performance of the model in different populations. Research could focus on developing more accurate models for hospitalization prediction. Studies could examine the cost-effectiveness of implementing the model in clinical practice.

    Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Hospitalization Among Pregnant Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department: A Large Retrospective Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited comprehensive studies integrating both clinical and laboratory characteristics in large obstetric cohorts. Previous studies have focused on specific diagnoses or small patient populations. Need for a large retrospective cohort study to investigate clinical and laboratory predictors of hospitalization.

    Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Hospitalization Among Pregnant Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department: A Large Retrospective Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The external validation cohort had a limited number of high-risk cases. The model calibration for moderate and high-risk populations could not be evaluated due to the limited number of positive events. The study used a retrospective observational design.

    Development and external validation of machine learning models for predicting hysterectomy in patients with postpartum hemorrhage · 2026 · DOI

  • Lack of precise and interpretable models for predicting PPH-related hysterectomy. Limited availability of externally validated models for postpartum hysterectomy prediction.

    Development and external validation of machine learning models for predicting hysterectomy in patients with postpartum hemorrhage · 2026 · DOI

  • The study had a small sample size due to the rare nature of the condition. The study was limited by the lack of availability of interventional radiology services in the early years of the study period. The study relied on patient self-reporting for long-term outcome data.

    The Application of Stepwise Pelvic Devascularisation in the Management of Severe Placenta Accreta Spectrum as Part of the Soleymani and Collins Technique for Caesarean Hysterectomy: Surgical Description and Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes · 2025 · DOI

  • However, the impact of chronic diseases on maternal mortality has not been adequately studied.

    Temporal Changes in the Contribution of Chronic Disease to Maternal Mortality in the United States · 2025 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on developing clinical practice guidelines for midwives for preventing, diagnosing and managing postpartum haemorrhage.

    Roles and challenges encountered by midwives in the management of postpartum haemorrhage following normal vaginal delivery: A scoping review · 2024 · DOI

  • One specific complication is abruption, a life-threatening condition with consequences for cardiovascular health that remains poorly studied.

    Placental Abruption and Cardiovascular Event Risk (PACER): Design, data linkage, and preliminary findings · 2024 · DOI

  • Given current insufficient evidence, no specific uterine closure technique can be mandated to reduce PAS risk; further randomized trials are needed. Closure Technique: Evidence on uterine closure technique is inconclusive.

    The Relationship between a History of Cesarean Section and The Incidence of Placenta Accreta : A Systematic Review · 2026 · DOI

  • Referral delays and suboptimal emergency obstetric care remain persistent challenges in the province. The study highlights the importance of adequate health services, particularly in the postpartum period.

    Postpartum as the Dominant Period of Maternal Death in Indonesia: Analysis of Survey Results · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for targeted preventive strategies to reduce maternal mortality in the province.

    Postpartum as the Dominant Period of Maternal Death in Indonesia: Analysis of Survey Results · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of standardized mechanisms for timely identification and notification of pregnancy makes it difficult to proactively plan for postpartum support. The dominant US postpartum financing structure remains fragmented, with separate billing and coverage for maternal and infant care.

    Focus on Postpartum Care Transitions: A Pathway to Improve Perinatal Health · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited evidence on SMM case profiles among foreign vs. Colombian women in Colombia.

    Profile of severe maternal morbidity cases by nationality in Colombia: analysis of national surveillance data, 2021 · 2026 · DOI

  • The gap in early detection and management of postpartum vulvovaginal haematomas in resource-limited settings. The need for skilled birth attendance and antenatal care to prevent maternal morbidity.

    Silent danger after home delivery: postpartum vulvovaginal hematoma in a ressource limited setting – A case report · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on how health literacy and shared decision-making can be improved. Analyzing the effects of domestic violence, racism, bias, and housing instability on maternal experiences is a priority.

    Disparities in Obstetric Anesthesia: An Urgent Call for Action · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of improvement in ethnic and racial disparities in obstetric anesthesia over 20 years. The need for research on how health literacy and shared decision-making can be improved.

    Disparities in Obstetric Anesthesia: An Urgent Call for Action · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to understand the clinical profile of critically ill obstetric patients. There is a lack of reliable data on maternal deaths and trends at the subnational level.

    Clinical profile and outcomes of critically ill obstetric patients in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care center · 2026 · DOI

  • We demonstrate that the poorer states need to accelerate their rates of progress in reducing maternal mortality if the whole of India is to achieve the UN SDGs. Our analyses have some limitations, however. Maternal deaths remain a reasonably uncommon cause of death. Reliable measurement of trends requires large sample sizes.

    Clinical profile and outcomes of critically ill obstetric patients in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care center · 2026 · DOI

  • High-quality evidence directly comparing incision types in the context of placental abruption is scarce. Existing studies are mostly retrospective and involve heterogeneous populations.

    Vertical versus transverse abdominal incision in placental abruption: a propensity score-matched study on the trade-off between speed and maternal-neonatal safety · 2026 · DOI

  • The development of AI models for PPH prediction is challenging due to the complexity of the condition. The lack of harmonized label definitions and reporting standards is a significant challenge. The review highlights the need for diverse populations and open datasets.

    Artificial intelligence for postpartum hemorrhage: a systematic review · 2026 · DOI

  • The review is limited to studies published between 2015 and 2025. The majority of the studies were retrospective and single-site, which may introduce bias. The review does not include studies that used open datasets.

    Artificial intelligence for postpartum hemorrhage: a systematic review · 2026 · DOI

  • The efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing bleeding during cesarean section operations under general or spinal anesthesia is not well established. There is a need to compare the effects of different doses of tranexamic acid on bleeding, bleeding parameters, transfusion requirements, and intraoperative fluid administration.

    Genel Anestezi ve Spinal Anestezi Altında Gerçekleştirilen Sezaryen Operasyonlarında Farklı Dozlarda Kullanılan Traneksamik Asit Dozunun Karşılaştırılması · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited perinatal workforce capacity and training in emerging care models. Payment and reimbursement barriers restrict adoption. The dominant US postpartum financing structure remains fragmented, with separate billing and coverage for maternal and infant care.

    Focus on Postpartum Care Transitions: A Pathway to Improve Perinatal Health · 2026 · DOI

  • Small sample size, - Limited power to detect rare risks, - Only selecting the very worst cases in an already rare condition, - Limited inference from statistical…

    The Application of Stepwise Pelvic Devascularisation in the Management of Severe Placenta Accreta Spectrum as Part of the Soleymani and Collins Technique for Caesarean Hysterectomy: Surgical Description and Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Outcomes · 2025 · DOI

  • Usability of the model in the context of current care 20c 21 22 23a 23b 27a 27b 27c E D;E D D;E D;E E D;E D;E D D D;E Version: 11-January-2024 Identify any differences between the development and evaluation data in healthcare setting, eligibility criteria, outcome, and predictors Name the institutional research board or ethics committee that approved the study and describe the participant-informed consent…

    Evaluating Postpartum Hemorrhage Transfusion Risk With a Machine Learning Model for Informed Consent: Retrospective Cohort Study · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Maternal and fetal healthcare

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) Further studies could investigate the predictive performance of the model in different populations (“Clinical and Laboratory Predictors of Hospitalization Among Pregnant Patients…”, 2026); (2) Lack of precise and interpretable models for predicting PPH-related hysterectomy (“Development and external validation of machine learning models for predicting…”, 2026); (3) Given current insufficient evidence, no specific uterine closure technique can be mandated to reduce PAS risk; further randomized trials are needed (“The Relationship between a History of Cesarean Section and The Incidence of…”, 2026); (4) The lack of standardized mechanisms for timely identification and notification of pregnancy makes it difficult to proactively plan for postpartum support (“Focus on Postpartum Care Transitions: A Pathway to Improve Perinatal Health”, 2026); (5) Future research should focus on how health literacy and shared decision-making can be improved (“Disparities in Obstetric Anesthesia: An Urgent Call for Action”, 2026). 222 gap statements have been mined from Maternal and fetal healthcare papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 1,960 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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