Prenatal Care
Date posted: 07/01/2009
Quick Data Links
Prenatal care refers to healthcare that a woman receives related to her pregnancy. Pregnancy is generally nine months in duration, and is divided into trimesters of three months each. Prenatal care is particularly important because it substantially decreases the risk of fetal mortality (Centers for Disease Control).
What this chart shows: Mothers Who Received Prenatal Care in the First Trimester, 2003 - 2007
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
What these data tell us:
From 2003 to 2007, an average of 79.2% of mothers in Larimer County and 78.0% of mothers in Colorado received prenatal care within their first trimester. Nationally, 83.2% of pregnant women reported receiving early prenatal care in 2006 (Centers for Disease Control). Both County and State averages were below the national percentage and the Healthy People 2010 target of 90%.Despite having prenatal care rates that are lower than the national rate, Larimer County has consistently lower infant mortality rates (3.5 in 2007) than the national rate (estimated 5.7 in 2007).
What this chart shows: Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Age Group, 2007
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
What these data tell us:
Generally speaking, older women were more likely than younger age groups to receive prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy. Mothers aged 10 to 19 were the least likely to receive early prenatal care.What this chart shows: Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Maternal Ethnicity & Race - Colorado & Larimer County, 2007
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
What these data tell us:
White mothers were more likely to receive first trimester prenatal care than Hispanic mothers in Colorado and Larimer County during 2007. In addition, a greater percentage of Larimer County White and Hispanic mothers received prenatal care during this time than in Colorado.In 2006, national data showed 57.7% of Hispanic mothers received prenatal care in the first trimester (Centers for Disease Control). Hispanic cultural norms regarding pregnancy affect their lack of formal prenatal care. Within the Hispanic community there is a strong informal system of prenatal care that guides women through their pregnancy including a strong cultural support for maternity, healthy dietary practices and a wide social support system that includes family, friends, community members and lay health workers (American Journal of Public Health). These cultural norms are most often practiced by Hispanic women who have spent less time in the United States. Despite their lack of early prenatal care, Hispanic mothers in the United States have lower rates of pre-term delivery and fewer low birthweight babies, compared to non-Hispanics and others (National Alliance for Hispanic Health).
Additional Information:
On Compass -
- Adult Alcohol Use
- Adult Tobacco Use
- Birth Defects
- Disability
- Infant Mortality
- Low Birthweight Babies
- Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
- Special Education Student Enrollment
- Teen Fertility Rates
- Women's Health
Outside Compass -
- Centers for Disease Control - Having a Healthy Pregnancy
- Larimer County Health Department
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - the Colorado Health Information Dataset (COHID) is a searchable database with information on pregnancy, newborns, birth defects, etc.
- The Colorado Health Report Card (2008) - according to this report, prepared by The Colorado Health Foundation, in 2006, 20.3% of pregnant women in Colorado received either no prenatal care or started care after the first trimester.
- Medicaid Outreach and Enrollment for Pregnant Women: What is the State of the Art? (May 2009) - prepared by The Urban Institute
- National Center for Health Statistics
- National Institutes of Health, Prenatal Care contains links to a variety of prenatal care information regarding health issues during pregnancy as well as research links.
- Tipping the Scales: Weighing in on Solutions to the Low Birth Weight Problem in Colorado
Industry Standards or Targets:
Healthy People 2010 Objectives
Percentage of Mothers who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care -
Colorado & Larimer County, 2000-2007
|
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
||||
|
Total Live Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
Total Live Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
|
|
2000 |
65,429 |
52,064 |
79.6% |
3,258 |
2,566 |
78.8% |
|
2001 |
67,006 |
52,586 |
78.5% |
3,282 |
2,647 |
80.7% |
|
2002 |
68,420 |
53,293 |
77.9% |
3,298 |
2,612 |
79.2% |
|
2003 |
69,304 |
54,117 |
78.1% |
3,500 |
2,789 |
79.7% |
|
2004 |
68,475 |
53,955 |
78.8% |
3,370 |
2,713 |
80.5% |
|
2005 |
68,922 |
54,147 |
78.6% |
3,446 |
2,691 |
78.1% |
|
2006 |
70,737 |
55,354 |
78.3% |
3,542 |
2,779 |
78.5% |
|
2007 |
70,804 |
53,828 |
76.0% |
3,471 |
2,756 |
79.4% |
First Trimester Prenatal Care by Age Group of Mother -
Colorado & Larimer County, 2007
|
|
Colorado (2007) |
Larimer County (2007) |
||||
|
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
|
|
10 to 19 |
6,753 |
4,022 |
59.6% |
247 |
142 |
57.5% |
|
20 to 29 |
35,907 |
23,555 |
65.6% |
1,791 |
1,395 |
77.9% |
|
30 to 39 |
26,086 |
21,589 |
82.8% |
1,335 |
1,136 |
85.1% |
|
40+ |
2,046 |
1,600 |
78.2% |
91 |
79 |
86.8% |
First Trimester Prenatal Care by Ethnicity/Race of Mother
- Colorado & Larimer County (2007)
|
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
||||
|
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
|
|
Hispanic |
22,227 |
14,720 |
66.2% |
620 |
426 |
68.7% |
|
White |
62,660 |
48,190 |
76.9% |
3,314 |
2,368 |
79.6% |