Women who receive early prenatal care have lower rates of negative pregnancy outcomes and have access to social support systems and programs that can help navigate pregnancy safely and healthily. HNC 2030, p. 88
In 2018, 68% of women in North Carolina received pregnancy related healthcare services within the first trimester of pregnancy. Women in lower income groups are less likely to be insured and have less access to appropriate prenatal care. Medicaid in North Carolina provides women with lower income prenatal care, delivery, postpartum care, childbirth classes, and treatment for complications with pregnancy. Teenage mothers and mothers in their early 20s are less likely to seek early prenatal care than older mothers. African American women, Hispanic women, and American Indian women are less likely to receive early prenatal care when compared to white women. The current goal for the next 10 years is to improve the percentage of early prenatal care to 80% of women for the first trimester of pregnancy. HNC 2030 pp. 88-89
NC State Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics