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Index: Health / Subcategory: Physical Health

Prenatal Care

Date posted: 06/04/2008

Chart Directory:

Prenatal care refers to healthcare that a woman receives related to her pregnancy. Pregnancy is generally nine months in duration, and is divided into trimesters of three months each. Prenatal care is particularly important because it substantially decreases the risk of fetal mortality (Centers for Disease Control).

What this chart shows: Mothers Who Received Prenatal Care in the First Trimester, 2002-2006

Mothers Who Received Prenatal Care in the First Trimester, 2002-2006

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What these data tell us:

From 2002 to 2006, an average of 79.2% of mothers in Larimer County and 78.3% of mothers in Colorado received prenatal care within their first trimester. Nationally in 2005, 83.9% of pregnant women reported receiving early prenatal care (Centers for Disease Control). Both County and State averages were below the national percentage and the Healthy People 2010 target of 90%.

Despite having prenatal care rates that are lower than the national rate, Larimer County and Colorado have consistently lower infant mortality rates (5.8 and 4.8 respectively in 2006) than the national rate (6.4 in 2006).

What this chart shows: Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Age Group, 2006

Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Age Group, 2006

* Fewer than three instances

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What these data tell us:

Women 25 or older were more likely than younger age groups to receive prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy. Mothers aged 10 to 14 were the least likely to receive early prenatal care. Teenage Colorado and Larimer County percentages were lower than national numbers (2003) for each age group. However the national numbers did follow the same trend by age group (Centers for Disease Control) clarify. See data table for the national figures.

What this chart shows: Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Maternal Ethnicity & Race - Colorado & Larimer County, 2006

Percentage of Mothers Who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care by Maternal Ethnicity & Race - Colorado & Larimer County, 2006

* Fewer than three instances.

Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

See data table

What these data tell us:

Non-Hispanic mothers received the highest percentages of first trimester prenatal care in Colorado and Larimer County in 2006.

National data (2004, unrevised) showed 77.5% of Hispanic mothers received prenatal care in the first trimester (Centers for Disease Control). Hispanic cultural norms regarding pregnancy affect their lack of formal prenatal care. Within the Hispanic community there is a strong informal system of prenatal care that guides women through their pregnancy including a strong cultural support for maternity, healthy dietary practices and a wide social support system that includes family, friends, community members and lay health workers (American Journal of Public Health). These cultural norms are most often practiced by Hispanic women who have spent less time in the United States. Despite their lack of early prenatal care, Hispanic mothers in the United States have lower rates of pre-term delivery and fewer low birth weight babies, compared to non-Hispanic and others (National Alliance for Hispanic Health).

Additional Information:

On Compass -

Outside Compass -

Industry Standards or Targets:

Healthy People 2010 Objectives

In 2003, the United States Certificate of Live Births was revised. National data was provided in revised and unrevised form. The unrevised data was utilized for this report because Colorado did not implement these changes until 2007.

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Data Tables:

Percentage of Mothers who Received First Trimester Prenatal Care -

Colorado & Larimer County, 2000-2006

 

Colorado

Larimer County

Total Live Births

Births with 1st trimester care

Percent

Total Live Births

Births with 1st trimester care

Percent

2000

65,429

52,064

79.6%

3,258

2,566

78.8%

2001

67,006

52,586

78.5%

3,282

2,647

80.7%

2002

68,420

53,293

77.9%

3,298

2,612

79.2%

2003

69,304

54,117

78.1%

3,500

2,789

79.7%

2004

68,475

53,955

78.8%

3,370

2,713

80.5%

2005

68,922

54,147

78.6%

3,446

2,691

78.1%

2006

70,737

55,354

78.3%

3,542

2,779

78.5%

See chart

First Trimester Prenatal Care by Age Group of Mother -

Colorado & Larimer County, 2006 (United States, 2003)

 

Colorado

(2006)

Larimer County

(2006)

United States (2003)

Total Births

Births with 1st trimester care

Percent

Total Births

Births with 1st trimester care

Percent

% Births with 1st trimester care

10 to 14

112

51

45.9%

3

*

*

49.3%

15 to 19

6,642

4,191

63.1%

252

147

58.3%

70.8%

20 to 24

16,723

11,929

71.3%

733

497

67.8%

79.0%

25 to 29

18,665

15,107

80.9%

1,067

882

82.7%

86.5%

30 to 34

16,820

14,193

84.4%

942

801

85.0%

89.9%

35 to 39

9,019

7,663

85.0%

436

367

84.2%

89.5%

40 to 44

1,804

1,515

84.0%

104

83

79.8%

86.6%

45+

110

92

83.6%

*

*

*

*

* Fewer than three instances

See chart

Return to Text

First Trimester Prenatal Care by Ethnicity/Race of Mother

- Colorado & Larimer County (2006)

 

 

Colorado

Larimer County

Total Births

Births with 1st trimester care

Percent

Total Births

Births with 1st trimester care

Percent

Hispanic

22,814

15,479

67.8%

644

399

62.0%

Non-Hispanic

47,909

39,866

83.2%

2,896

2,379

82.1%

Others/Unknown

14

9

64.3%

*

*

N/A

* Fewer than three instances

See chart