Interventions to Optimize Dietary Patterns in Black Pregnant Individuals: An Integrative Review.
Katherine Erbe, Anne N Thorndike, Melissa Nelson et al.
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In 30 seconds
This integrative review identified and evaluated interventions intended to improve dietary patterns among Black pregnant individuals in high-income countries. Searches conducted in October 2023 and June 2025 yielded 14 articles representing 10 studies; half of the studies enrolled Black or African American pregnant women exclusively. Interventions included nutrition education, behavioral counseling, and nutritious food delivery. Dietary assessment and analysis were inconsistently reported, and diet quality was the primary outcome in only three articles. Only one intervention was reported to improve participants’ dietary intake, highlighting limited evidence in this population.
Key findings
- The review included 14 articles from 10 studies; half of the studies enrolled Black or African American pregnant women exclusively.
- Only one intervention was effective in improving participants’ dietary intake.
- Diet quality was the primary outcome in only three articles, and dietary assessment and analysis were inconsistently reported.
Why it matters
Nutrition interventions may support healthier dietary patterns during pregnancy, but evidence specific to Black pregnant individuals in high-income countries remains sparse. Inconsistent dietary measurement and limited reporting make it difficult to compare interventions or understand how diet relates to pregnancy and health outcomes. Better-designed and more comprehensively reported research is needed to address this evidence gap.
What to keep in mind
The review found inconsistent reporting of dietary assessment and analysis, and diet quality was the primary outcome in only three articles.