MATERNAL FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE INADEQUATE PRENATAL-CARE

Fifty-seven pregnant women who received inadequate prenatal care ident ified the factors that influenced their decisions related to prenatal care. Data were collected in an institution that serves neighborhood c linics that offer free prenatal care and can be reached by public tran sportation. Women were interviewed either prenatally (n=23) or postnat ally (n=34). The interview questions were drawn from the literature on the adequacy of prenatal care. The women identified 22 personal reaso ns and structural barriers for receiving inadequate prenatal care. The five most frequently cited reasons were small children at home, no me dical assistance card, didn't know reason, sadness or ambivalence abou t the pregnancy, and just moved to the area. Despite demographic risk and facing the similar barriers, some women manage to receive sufficie nt care and others do not. Presently, government and other policy-maki ng groups often believe that public insurance, Medicaid, or socialized medicine is the answer to our high infant mortality rate. However, in some geographic areas where financial barriers are not factors and wh ere services are available that meet pregnant women's needs, some wome n still do not enter care early and remain in care. Data that expand k nowledge on why women receive inadequate prenatal care will be useful in developing community outreach programs, preparing public service an nouncements, and designing prenatal services.