Prenatal Care
Date Updated: 10/31/2011
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. (See Reducing Infant Mortality [pdf], The Annie E. Casey Foundation, July 2009).
What this chart shows: Mothers Who Received Prenatal Care in the First Trimester in Colorado and Larimer County, 2001-2010
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
What the above data tell us:
In Larimer County, 86.2% of pregnant women and 77.6% of pregnant women in Colorado received prenatal care within their first trimester in 2010. Both Colorado and Larimer County failed to meet the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 90.0%.What this chart shows: Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Age Group in Colorado and Larimer County, 2010
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
What the above data tell us:
Generally speaking, teenagers were less likely than older age groups to receive prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy. The only group shown above to meet the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 90.0% was women in Larimer County aged 30 to 39.What this chart shows: Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Maternal Ethnicity & Race in Colorado & Larimer County, 2010
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
What the above data tell us:
Non-Hispanic mothers were more likely to receive first trimester prenatal care than Hispanic mothers in Colorado and Larimer County during 2009. In addition, a greater percentage of Larimer County women received prenatal care during this time than in Colorado. Neither group met the Healthy People 2010 Objective of 90.0%In 2007, national data showed 64.7% of Hispanic mothers (Births: Final Data for 2007, August 2010, [pdf] Centers for Disease Control) received prenatal care in the first trimester. 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:
Related 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
Other Resources -
- 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 (2010) - according to this report, prepared by The Colorado Health Foundation, in 2007, 22.7% 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) [pdf] - 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.
Industry Standards or Targets:
Healthy People 2010 Objectives
- 16-6. Increase the proportion of pregnant women who receive early and adequate prenatal care (90% of live births).
Percentage of Mothers who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care
|
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
Healthy People 2010 Objective |
||||
|
Total Live Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
Total Live Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
||
|
2001 |
67,006 | 52,586 | 78.5% | 3,282 | 2,647 | 80.7% | 90.0% |
|
2002 |
68,420 | 53,293 | 77.9% | 3,298 | 2,612 | 79.2% | 90.0% |
|
2003 |
69,304 | 54,117 | 78.1% | 3,500 | 2,789 | 79.7% | 90.0% |
|
2004 |
68,475 | 53,955 | 78.8% | 3,370 | 2,713 | 80.5% | 90.0% |
|
2005 |
68,922 | 54,147 | 78.6% | 3,446 | 2,691 | 78.1% | 90.0% |
|
2006 |
70,737 | 55,354 | 78.3% | 3,542 | 2,779 | 78.5% | 90.0% |
|
2007 |
70,804 | 53,828 | 76.0% | 3,471 | 2,756 | 79.4% | 90.0% |
|
2008 |
70,028 | 52,298 | 74.7% | 3,491 | 2,840 | 81.4% | 90.0% |
|
2009 |
68,605 | 52,185 | 76.1% | 3,502 | 2,981 | 85.1% | 90.0% |
|
2010 |
66,346 | 51,457 | 77.6% | 3,361 | 2,898 | 86.2% | 90.0% |
First Trimester Prenatal Care by Age Group of Mother - 2010
|
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
||||
|
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
Percent |
|
|
15 to 19 |
5,422 | 3,362 | 62.0% | 205 | 139 | 67.8% |
|
20 to 29 |
32,871 | 24,835 | 75.6% | 1,560 | 1,316 | 84.4% |
|
30 to 39 |
25,855 | 21,529 | 83.3% | 1,482 | 1,350 | 91.1% |
|
40 to 49 |
2,120 | 1,686 | 79.5% | 109 | 87 | 79.8% |
First Trimester Prenatal Care by Ethnicity/Race of Mother - 2010
|
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
||||
|
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
% |
Total Births |
Births with 1st trimester care |
% |
|
|
Hispanic |
19,735 |
13,793 |
69.9% |
39,935 |
33,029 |
82.7% |
|
White not Hispanic |
39,935 |
33,029 |
79.6% |
2,582 |
2,270 |
87.9% |