HEALTH-STATUS AND TIMING OF ONSET OF PRENATAL-CARE - IS THERE AN ASSOCIATION AMONG LOW-INCOME WOMEN

We examined medical obstetric conditions predating pregnancy and curre nt symptoms as predictors of the timing of the start of prenatal care among low-income women in Snohomish County, Washington. The investigat ion was a cross-sectional survey with retrospective record review. Sub jects were 473 women who sought care through the community health cent er network, which was the only provider of prenatal care for low-incom e women in the county at the time of the study. Women with a history o f two or more medical or obstetric conditions were more likely than th ose without such histories to seek prenatal care early in pregnancy. W omen who, in the current pregnancy, had few physical symptoms were mor e likely to delay seeking prenatal care than symptomatic women. Among this relatively homogeneous group, sociodemographic characteristics we re not associated with the timing of entry into prenatal care. The fin dings help to explain the patterns of prenatal care use of certain gro ups, and suggest avenues for intervention to improve use among low-inc ome women.