Maternal Factors That Influence Inadequate Prenatal Care

Abstract

Fifty-seven pregnant women who received inadequate prenatal care identified the factors that influenced their decisions related to prenatal care. Data were collected in an institution that serves neighborhood clinics that offer free prenatal care and can be reached by public transportation. Women were interviewed either prenatally (n = 23) or postnatally (n = 34). The interview questions were drawn from the literature on the adequacy of prenatal care. The women identified 22 personal reasons and structural barriers for receiving inadequate prenatal care. The five most frequently cited reasons were small children at home, no medical assistance card, didn't know reason, sadness or ambivalence about the pregnancy, and just moved to the area. Despite demographic risk and facing the similar barriers, some women manage to receive sufficient care and others do not. Presently, government and other policy-making groups often believe that public insurance, Medicaid, or socialized medicine is the answer to our high infant mortality rate. However, in some geographic areas where financial barriers are not factors and where services are available that meet pregnant women's needs, some women still do not enter care early and remain in care. Data that expand knowledge on why women receive inadequate prenatal care will be useful in developing community outreach programs, preparing public service announcements, and designing prenatal services.