Prenatal Care

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.