Overall, the percentage of pregnant women not receiving early
prenatal care has decreased in Boulder County, while the percentage has
steadily increased statewide in recent years. The percentage of pregnant women
not receiving early prenatal care varies considerably by age, with teen moms
being the least likely to receive early prenatal care.
There is also a disparity in prenatal care by
race/ethnicity: White, Hispanic pregnant women were less likely to have
received early prenatal care than White, non-Hispanic pregnant women, both in
Boulder County and statewide.
Pregnant women who receive proper prenatal care early in
their pregnancies tend to deliver healthier babies than women who do not.
Inadequate prenatal care, on the other hand, has been linked to low birth
weight. Early prenatal care contributes to healthier births through:
Monitoring, early detection, and management of maternal
and fetal problems or conditions.
Education about adequate nutrition and potentially risky
behaviors.
Referrals to appropriate services.
Health Planning Program, Boulder County Public Health
3450 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304
(303) 441-1572,
www.BoulderCountyHealth.org/hp
