Table 1 Overview of the factors according to the conceptual framework of Foets et al.

Individual factors

Demographics, genetics and pregnancy

Being younger than 20 [20]*

Multiparity [20]*

Unplanned pregnancy [20]*

Migration

Lack of knowledge of or information about the Western healthcare system [22, 23, 25–27, 30–32, 35]

Recognition of prenatal care as an important issue in the community [30]^•

Arriving in the new country late in pregnancy [22]*

Culture

Adherence to cultural and religious practices [23, 25, 34]^•

Care provider of the same ethnic origin [27]^•

Poor language proficiency [20, 22, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31]

Belief that prenatal care ensures baby’s well-being [23, 34]^•

Lack of assertiveness [24]^•

Belief in looking after your own health for a healthy baby [34]^•

Dependency on husband [22, 34, 35]

Perceiving pregnancy as a normal state [29]^•

Belief that prenatal care is more a burden than a benefit [25]^•

Belief that prenatal classes are not necessary [22, 34]

Position in host country

Financial problems [22, 23, 31]

Better socio-economic follow-up [31]^•

Unemployment [21]*

Low or intermediate educational level [20, 21]*

Social inequality (education, economic resources and residence (rural or urban)) [35]^•

Lack of time [22, 23, 27, 30]

Lack of childcare [23, 25]^•

No medical leave from work [31]^•

Social network

No support from family [35]^•

Husband with a good command of the industrialized country’s official language [34]^•

Acquiring or following advice from family and friends [22, 23]

Isolated community [35]^•

Health service factors

Accessibility

Inappropriate timing and incompatible opening hours [23, 35]^•

Transport and mobility problems [22, 26, 27, 35]

Indirect discrimination [32]^•

Expertise

Care provider lacking knowledge of cultural practices [25]^•

A mature, experienced healthcare provider with a command of the native language [30]^•

Care provider showing interest and respect [23]^•

Care provider alleviating worries and fears [23]^•

Personal treatment and communication

Poor communication [23, 32, 35]^•

Use of native language [27, 28, 30, 31]^•

Perceiving yourself as having been badly treated by a care provider [33]^•

Improved communication [23, 31]^•

Audio-visual material [27]^•

Renaming prenatal classes to prenatal sessions [30]^•