Prenatal care refers to pregnancy-related care. Prenatal care services typically include screening and treatment for medical conditions, and identification and interventions for behavioral risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes (e.g. smoking, poor nutrition). Assessment of the appropriateness of prenatal care obtained during pregnancy can be measured in different ways. PeriStats provides data on the timing of the first prenatal care visit; that is, when prenatal care is first initiated during the pregnancy. It also provides data on the adequacy of prenatal care, which assesses both the timing of the first prenatal care visit, and the frequency of visits throughout the entire pregnancy adjusted for the infant's gestational age.
Last updated:
January 2022
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In Virginia in 2022, 79.6% of live births were to women receiving early prenatal care, 14.7% were to women beginning care in the second trimester, and 5.7% were to women receiving late or no prenatal care.
In 2022, about 1 in 18 infants (5.7% of live births) was born to a woman receiving late or no prenatal care in Virginia.
In Virginia, 79.8% of live births were to women receiving adequate/adequate plus prenatal care, 6.8% were to women receiving intermediate care, and 13.4% were to women receiving inadequate care.
In 2022, about 1 in 8 infants (13.4% of live births) was born to a woman receiving inadequate prenatal care in Virginia.
Notes: Adequacy is measured using the Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index, which classifies prenatal care received into 1 of 4 categories (inadequate, intermediate, adequate, and adequate plus) by combining information about the timing of prenatal care, the number of visits, and the infant's gestational age.
Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, final natality data. Kotelchuck M. An evaluation of the Kessner Adequacy of Prenatal Care Index and a proposed Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index. Am J Public Health 1994; 84: 1414-1420. Retrieved March 19, 2024, from www.marchofdimes.org/peristats.
In Virginia during 2020-2022 (average), mothers under age 20 (27.5%) had the highest rates of inadequate prenatal care compared to other maternal age categories.
The rate of inadequate prenatal care among births to women under age 20 (27.5%) was about 2 times the rate among women ages 30-39 (10.9%).