Prenatal care utilization for mothers from low-income areas of New Mexico, 1989-1999.

Michael A Schillaci,Sandra J Romain,E Ann Carson,Howard Waitzkin

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012809

Abstract

BackgroundPrenatal care is considered to be an important component of primary health care. Our study compared prenatal care utilization and rates of adverse birth outcomes for mothers from low- and higher-income areas of New Mexico between 1989 and 1999.Methodology/Principal FindingsPrenatal care indicators included the number of prenatal care visits and the first month of prenatal care. Birth outcome indicators included low birth weight, premature birth, and births linked with death certificates. The results of our study indicated that mothers from low-income areas started their prenatal care significantly later in their pregnancies between 1989 and 1999, and had significantly fewer prenatal visits between 1989 and 1997. For the most part, there were not significant differences in birth outcome indicators between income groupings.Conclusions/SignificanceThese findings suggest that while mothers from low-income areas received lower levels of prenatal care, they did not experience a higher level of adverse birth outcomes.

Highlights

This retrospective research compared levels of prenatal care utilization and rates of adverse birth outcomes between mothers from low- and higher-income residential areas of New Mexico, a largely poor and rural state with high levels of poverty, uninsurance, minority ethnicity, and limited physician capacity [1]
As an important component of primary health care, adequate prenatal care is generally considered essential for reducing adverse birth outcomes
The results of our analysis indicate significant differences in prenatal care utilization by mothers from low- and higher-income areas

Summary

Introduction

This retrospective research compared levels of prenatal care utilization and rates of adverse birth outcomes between mothers from low- and higher-income residential areas of New Mexico, a largely poor and rural state with high levels of poverty, uninsurance, minority ethnicity, and limited physician capacity [1]. As an important component of primary health care, adequate prenatal care is generally considered essential for reducing adverse birth outcomes. Adequate prenatal care has been found to be an indicator of utilization of future child health care, including adequate number of wellchild visits and up-to-date immunization status [7,8]. Prenatal care is considered to be an important component of primary health care. Our study compared prenatal care utilization and rates of adverse birth outcomes for mothers from low- and higher-income areas of New Mexico between 1989 and 1999

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Methods

Results

Conclusion