Identification of factors associated with delayed antenatal care

Research has shown that women who do not obtain adequate prenatal care significantly reduce their chances of a favorable pregnancy outcome. Because interventions aimed at circumventing unfavorable pregnancy outcomes, such as low birthweight, are most effective during prenatal care, the need to identify sociodemographic characteristics associated with a delay in the onset of such care is reinforced. In this study of 284 women seeking services at selected public clinics in Detroit, regression analysis was used to examine the simultaneous effects of change in income, insurance status, household members, age, and other variables on the prevalence of delayed prenatal care. Delayed care was found to be associated with a lack of insurance and an education of fewer than 12 years. Insurance status and household members (serving as an adjunct indicator of marital status) were found to be important predictors of late entry. Other variables such as age and race appeared to have no influence on the decision to delay care.