PRENATAL CARE
Early Prenatal Care
The proportion of mothers beginning prenatal care
in the first trimester was 83.2 percent in 2000, unchanged
from 1999. However, the proportion of women receiving
timely care has increased steadily from 75.8 percent
in 1990.
Though the majority of women received early prenatal
care, racial disparities persist. In 2000, 88.5 percent
of white women and 84.0 percent of Asian or Pacific
Islander women received early prenatal care compared
to 74.3 percent of black, 74.4 percent of Hispanic,
and 69.3 percent of American Indian women. However,
differences by race are narrowing. The proportion
of black, Hispanic, and American Indian women receiving
early prenatal care increased by 20 percent or more
between 1990 and 2000.
Women younger than 20 are much less likely than older
women to receive early prenatal care.
Late or No Prenatal Care
Women beginning prenatal care in the third trimester
or going without prenatal care increased slightly
from 3.8 percent in 1999 to 3.9 percent in 2000. However,
the percent of women receiving late or no prenatal
care has decreased from 6.1 percent in 1990.
Regardless of age, black and Hispanic women are more
likely than white women to receive late or no prenatal
care.
Risk factors for not using prenatal care include
being less than 20 years old, being unmarried, having
low educational attainment, and being a member of
a racial or ethnic minority.
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