Prenatal Care
Prenatal care refers to the healthcare women receive while they are pregnant. Proper prenatal care includes regular checkups, testing, and counseling, and it is vital to a healthy pregnancy. It allows for early detection and treatment of health problems associated with the pregnancy. Mothers who do not receive appropriate care are more likely to give birth to babies with low birth weight and risk other serious complications. Unfortunately, not all women receive proper prenatal care, particularly low-income women and women of color. In a 2005 study conducted in Boston, 84% of all mothers received adequate prenatal care. However, statistics varied by race and ethnicity: 90% of white mothers received adequate prenatal care; 84% of Asian mothers; 82% of Latino mothers; and only 78% of black or other-ethnicity mothers [1]. Most insurance companies cover prenatal care, however many women remain uninsured or underinsured despite the state’s health care reform. In particular, Hispanics and people with an income under 300% of the poverty level are significantly more likely to be uninsured [2]. Massachusetts uses Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds in order to provide prenatal care to low-income women (regardless of immigration status). Although Massachusetts is one of only 28 states that allow all pregnant minors to consent to prenatal care, age also remains a significant barrier to prenatal care [3]. Young women are less likely to be educated about prenatal care, can face significant financial barriers, and have higher rates of unplanned pregnancy. Nationwide, one third of pregnant teenagers do not receive adequate prenatal care [4]. Additional barriers to receiving prenatal care include a lack of adequate facilities and care providers, especially in low-income areas, discouraging and impersonal clinics, and a lack of education about the importance of prenatal care.
Ways to improve women’s health and access to prenatal care include: increasing education and outreach, especially among populations less likely to receive adequate care, reducing unplanned pregnancies, and supporting non-medical pregnancy caregivers such as doulas, who provide educational and other support to pregnant women.
Overall, we must improve access to services for pregnant women and address our failure to provide equal care to women of color and young women. Prenatal care is a basic and necessary service and should be truly accessible to all. For information about free or low-cost prenatal care in your area, call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-311-2229) to speak with a local health department. For information in Spanish, call 1-800-504-7081. Notes
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