Related Experiment Videos
Racial differences in perceived barriers to prenatal care
S A Tossounian1, K C Schoendorf, J L Kiely
1Infant and Child Health Studies Branch, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA.
Maternal and Child Health Journal
|March 23, 2000
Summary
Black women face more barriers to prenatal care, but report them less often than white women. Understanding these differing perceptions is key to improving maternal health access for all women.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Maternal Health
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Black women receive less adequate prenatal care than white women.
- Disparities in prenatal care access persist, necessitating research into underlying barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate racial differences in reported barriers to prenatal care among black and white mothers.
- To identify financial, service, and personal barriers affecting prenatal care utilization.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the 1988 National Maternal and Infant Health Survey data.
- Examined the relationship between race and reported barriers, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic factors.
- Stratified analyses by marital status due to significant effect modification.
Main Results:
- Married black women reported fewer barriers than white women after adjustments (OR=0.8).
- Unmarried black women were significantly less likely to report barriers than unmarried white women (OR=0.4).
- Despite lower reported barriers, black women are known to receive less adequate prenatal care.
Conclusions:
- Black women may underreport barriers to prenatal care compared to white women.
- Differing expectations of the healthcare system could explain the discrepancy in reported barriers.
- Addressing perceived barriers is crucial for ensuring equitable access to prenatal care for all pregnant women.