Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What is the Role of Prenatal Care in Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pregnancy Outcomes?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Reducing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Reproductive and Perinatal Outcomes

Abstract

Abstract For morethan two decades, prenatal care has been a cornerstone of our nation?s strategy for preventing low birthweight (LBW). The enrollment of all pregnant women in prenatal care was promoted by the seminal 1985 Institute of Medicine report Preventing Low Birthweight (IOM, 1985a), following a comprehensive review of the literature by a select IOM committee on the effectiveness of prenatal care for preventing LBW. Because LBW contributes significantly to racial-ethnic disparities in infant mortality and morbidity, increasing access to prenatal care for all women has also become established as the key population-based public health intervention to address racial-ethnic disparities in perinatal outcomes. The purpose of this chapter is to review evidence on the overall effectiveness of prenatal care in preventing LBW and reducing racial-ethnic disparities in LBW.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alexander, G. R., & Korenbrot, G. (1995). The role of prenatal care in preventing low birth weight. Future of Children,5, 103–120.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, G. R., & Kotelchuck, M. (1996). Quantifying the adequacy of prenatal care: A comparison of indices. Public Health Reports, 111, 408–409.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, G. R., & Kotelchuck, M. (2001). Assessing the role and effectiveness of prenatal care: History, challenges, and directions for future research. Public Health Reports,116, 306–316.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, G. R., & Slay, M. (2002). Prematurity at birth: Trends, racial disparities, and epidemiology. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews,8, 215–220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Academy of Pediatrics & The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2007). Guidelines for perinatal care (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armson, B. A., Dodds, L., Haliburton, S. C., Cervin, C., & Rinaldo, K. (2003). Impact of participation in the Halifax County Preterm Birth Prevention Project. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada,25(3), 209–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnet, B., Duggan, A. K., & Devoe, M. (2003). Reduced low birth weight for teenagers receiving prenatal care at a school-based health center: Effect of access and comprehensive care. Journal of Adolescent Health,33(5), 349–358.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barros, H., Tavares, M., & Rodrigues, T. (1996). Role of prenatal care in preterm birth and low birthweight in Portugal. Journal of Public Health Medicine,18(3), 321–328.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, J. F., & Zimmerman, F. J. (2003). Selection bias in prenatal care use by Medicaid recipients. Maternal and Child Health Journal,7, 239–252.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Binstock, M. A., & Wolde-Tsadik, G. (1995). Alternative prenatal care. Impact of reduced visit frequency, focused visits and continuity of care. Journal of Reproductive Medicine,40(7), 507–512.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blanchette, H. (1995). Comparison of obstetric outcome of a primary-care access clinic staffed by certified nurse-midwives and a private practice group of obstetricians in the same community. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,172(6), 1864–1868.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boss, D. J., & Timbrook, R. E. (2001). Clinical obstetric outcomes related to continuity in prenatal care. Journal of the American Board of Family Practice,14(6), 418–423.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooten, D., Youngblut, J. M., Brown, L., Finkler, S. A., Neff, D. F., & Madigan, E. (2001). A randomized trial of nurse specialist home care for women with high-risk pregnancies: Outcomes and costs. American Journal of Managed Care,7(8), 793–803.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryce, R. L., Stanley, F. J., & Garner, J. B. (1991). Randomized controlled trial of antenatal social support to prevent preterm birth. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,98, 1001–1008.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chrousos, G. P. (2000). Stress response and immune function: Clinical implications. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,917, 38–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coe, C. L. (1999). Psychosocial factors and psychoneuroimmunology within a lifespan perspective. In D. P. Keating & C. Hertzman (Eds.), Developmental health and the wealth of nations: Social, biological and educational dynamics (pp. 201–219). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collaborative Group on Preterm Birth Prevention. (1993). Multicenter randomized, controlled trial of a preterm birth prevention program. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,169, 352–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, J. W. J., David, R. J., Symons, R., Handler, A., Wall, S., & Andes, S. (1998). African-American mothers’ perception of their residential environment, stressful life events, and very low birthweight. Epidemiology,9, 286–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, J. W. J., David, R. J., Symons, R., Handler, A., Wall, S. N., & Dwyer, L. (2000). Low-income African-American mothers’ perception of exposure to racial discrimination and infant birth weight. Epidemiology,11, 337–339.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, J. W. J., Herman, S. N., & David, R. J. (1997). Adequacy of prenatal care utilization, maternal ethnicity, and infant birthweight in Chicago. Journal of the National Medical Association,89(3), 198–203.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dyson, D. C., Danbe, K. H., Bamber, J. A., Crites, Y. M., Field, D. R., Maier, J. A., et al. (1998). Monitoring women at risk for preterm labor. The New England Journal of Medicine,338(1), 15–19.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eastman, N. J. (1947). Prematurity from the viewpoint of the obstetrician. American Practitioner,I(7), 343–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, C. F., Chazotte, C., Freda, M. C., Shah, L., Girz, B., Damus, K., et al. (1995). Impact of an inner-city, hospital-based preterm prevention program on preterm births in twin gestation. Journal of the Association for Academic Minority Physicians,6(2), 78–81.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eisner, V., Brazie, J. V., Pratt, M. W., & Hexter, A. C. (1979). The risk of low birthweight. American Journal of Public Health,69, 887–893.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emanuel, I. (1997). Invited commentary: An assessment of maternal intergenerational factors in pregnancy outcome. American Journal of Epidemiology,146, 820–825.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, K. M. (2000). Health behaviors in a social context. In L. F. Berkman & I. Kawachi (Eds.), Social epidemiology (pp. 242–266). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiscella, K. (1995). Does prenatal care improve birth outcomes? A critical review. Obstetrics and Gynecology,85(3), 468–479.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geronimus, A. T. (1996). Black/white differences in the relationship of maternal age to birthweight: A population-based test of the weathering hypothesis. Social Science & Medicine,42, 589–597.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldenberg, R. L., Davis, R. O., Copper, R. L., Corliss, D. K., Andrews, J. B., & Carpenter, A. H. (1990). The Alabama preterm birth prevention project. Obstetrics and Gynecology,5, 933–939.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldenberg, R. L., Hauth, J. C., & Andrews, W. W. (2000). Intrauterine infection and preterm delivery. New England Journal of Medicine,342, 1500–1507.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Olmedo, M., Delgado-Rodriguez, M., Bueno-Cavanillas, A., Molina-Font, J. A., & Gálvez-Vargas, R. (1996). Prenatal care and prevention of preterm birth. A case-control study in southern Spain. European Journal of Epidemiology,12(1), 37–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gortmaker, S. L. (1979). The effects of prenatal care upon the health of the newborn. American Journal of Public Health,69, 653–660.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, A. V., Frank, S. H., Zyzanski, S. J., Kitson, G. C., & Reeb, K. G. (1992). A clinical trial to reduce the rate of low birth weight in an inner-city black population. Family Medicine,24, 439–446.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, R. S. (1983). The impact of prenatal care in different social groups. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,145, 797–801.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grimes, D. A. (1994). The morbidity and mortality of pregnancy: Still risky business. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,170, 1489–1494.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heins, H. C. Jr., Nance, N. W., McCathy, B. J., & Efird, C. M. (1990). A randomized trial of nurse-midwifery prenatal care to reduce low birth weight. Obstetrics and Gynecology,75, 341–345.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Helfand, M., & Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (1997). Practice variation and the risk of low birth weight in a public prenatal care program. Medical Care,35(1), 16–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herman, A. A., Berendes, H. W., Yu, K. F., Cooper, L. C., Overpeck, M. D., Rhoads, G., et al. (1996). Evaluation of the effectiveness of a community-based enriched model prenatal intervention project in the District of Columbia. Health Services Research,31(5), 609–621.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hertzman, C. (1999). The biological embedding of early experience and its effects on health in adulthood. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,896, 85–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, I. T. (1992). The role of Medicaid and other government programs in providing medical care for children and pregnant women. Future of Children,2(2), 134–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodnett, E. D., & Fredericks, S. (2003). Support during pregnancy for women at increased risk of low birthweight babies. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3), CD000198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogan, V. K., Njorge, T., Durant, T. M., & Ferre, C. D. (2001). Eliminating disparities in perinatal outcomes – Lessons learned. Maternal and Child Health Journal,5, 135–140.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Homan, R. K., & Korenbrot, C. C. (1998). Explaining variation in birth outcomes of Medicaid-eligible women with variation in the adequacy of prenatal support services. Medical Care,36(2), 190–201.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hueston, W. J. (1995). Prenatal care and low-birth-weight rates in urban and rural Wisconsin. Journal of the American Board of Family Practice,8(1), 17–21.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hueston, W. J., Gilbert, G. E., Davis, L., & Sturgill, V. (2003). Delayed prenatal care and the risk of low birth weight delivery. Journal of Community Health,28(3), 199–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hueston, W. J., Knox, M. A., Eilers, G., Pauwels, J., & Lonsdorf, D. (1995). The effectiveness of preterm-birth prevention educational programs for high-risk women: A meta-analysis. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 86, 705–712.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huntington, J., & Connell, F. A. (1994). For every dollar spent – The cost-savings argument for prenatal care. New England Journal of Medicine,331, 1303–1307.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ickovics, J. R., Kershaw, T. S., Westdahl, C., Rising, S. S., Klima, C., Reynolds, H., et al. (2003). Group prenatal care and preterm birth weight: Results from a matched cohort study at public clinics. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 102(5 Pt 1), 1051–1057.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine. Committee to Study the Prevention of Low Birth Weight. (1985a). Preventing low birth weight. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine. Committee to Study the Prevention of Low Birth Weight. (1985b). Preventing low birth weight. Summary. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, D. J., Lang, J. M., Swartz, W. H., Ganiats, T. G., Fullerton, J., Ecker, J., et al. (2003). Outcomes, safety, and resource utilization in a collaborative care birth center program compared with traditional physician-based perinatal care. American Journal of Public Health,93(6), 999–1006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K., Posner, S. F., Biermann, J., Cordero, J. F., Atrash, H. K., Parker, C. S., et al. (2006). Recommendations to improve preconception health and health care – United States. A report of the CDC/ATSDR Preconception Care Work Group and the Select Panel on Preconception Care. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Recommendations and Reports,55(RR-6), 1–23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kessner, D. M., Singer, J., Kalk, C. W., & Schlesinger, E. R. (1973). Infant death: An analysis by maternal risk and health care. In Institute of Medicine (Ed.), Contrasts in health status (Vol. I). Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khong, T. Y., De Wolf, F., Robertson, W. B., & Brosens, I. (1986). Inadequate maternal vascular response to placentation in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia and by small-for-gestational-age infants. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,93, 1049–1059.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King, J., & Flenady, V. (2002). Antibiotics for preterm labour with intact membranes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2), CD000246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitzman, H., Olds, D. L., Henderson, C. R. Jr., Hanks, C., Cole, R., Tatelbaum, R., et al. (1997). Effect of prenatal and infancy home visitation by nurses on pregnancy outcomes, childhood injuries, and repeated childbearing. ­A randomized controlled trial. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association,278(8), 644.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klerman, L. V., Ramey, S. L., Goldenberg, R. L., Marbury, S., Hou, J., & Cliver, S. P. (2001). A randomized trial of augmented prenatal care for multiple-risk, Medicaid-eligible African-American women. American Journal of Public Health,91(1), 105–111.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kogan, M. D., Alexander, G. R., Jack, B. W., & Allen, M. C. (1998). The association between adequacy of prenatal care utilization and subsequent pediatric care utilization in the United States. Pediatrics,102, 25–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kogan, M. D., Alexander, G. R., Kotelchuck, M., & Nagey, D. A. (1994). Relation of the content of prenatal care to the risk of low birth weight. The Journal of the American Medical Association,271, 1340–1345.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kogan, M. D., Martin, J. A., Alexander, G. R., Kotelchuck, M., Ventura, S. S., & Frigoletto, F. D. (1998). The changing pattern of prenatal care utilization in the United States, 1981–1995, using different prenatal care indices. The Journal of the American Medical Association,279, 1623–1628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korenbrot, C. C., Steinberg, A., Bender, C., & Newberry, S. (2002). Preconception care: A systematic review. Maternal and Child Health Journal,6(2), 75–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kotelchuck, M. (1994). An evaluation of the Kessner Adequacy of Prenatal Care Index and a proposed Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index. American Journal of Public Health,84, 1414–1420.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kristenson, M., Kucinskien, Z., Bergdahl, B., Calkauskas, H., Urmonas, V., & Orth-Gomer, K. (1998). Increased psychosocial strain in Lithuanian versus Swedish men: The LiVicorida study. Psychosomatic Medicine,60, 277–282.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, P. M., & Scholl, T. O. (2000). Adequacy of prenatal care and pregnancy outcome. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association,100(8), 485–492.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laditka, S. B., Laditka, J. N., Mastanduno, M. P., Lauria, M. R., & Foster, T. C. (2005). Potentially avoidable maternity complications: An indicator of access to prenatal and primary care during pregnancy. Women & Health,41(3), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaVeist, T. A. (1993). Segregation, poverty, and empowerment: Health consequences for African-Americans. Milbank Quarterly, 71, 41–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lazariu-Bauer, V., Stratton, H., Pruzek, R., & Woelfel, M. L. (2004). A comparative analysis of effects of early versus late prenatal WIC participation on birth weight: NYS, 1995. Maternal and Child Health Journal,8(2), 77–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Little, M., Saul, G. D., Testa, K., & Gaziano, C. (2002). Improving pregnancy outcome and reducing avoidable clinical resource utilization through telephonic perinatal care coordination. Lippincott’s Case Management,7(3), 103–112.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lockwood, C. J. (2003). Testing for risk of preterm delivery. Clinical Laboratory Medicine,23, 345–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loke, Y. W., & King, A. (1997). Immunology of human placental implantation: Clinical implications of our current understanding. Molecular Medicine Today,4, 153–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, M. C., & Halfon, N. (2003). Racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes: A life-course perspective. Maternal and Child Health Journal,7(1), 13–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, M. C., Jones, L., Bond, M., Pumpuang, M., Maidenberg, M., Jones, D., et al. (2007). Where is the F in MCH: Father involvement in African-American families. Ethnicity and Disease,20(1 Suppl 2), S2–S49–S61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Q., Lu, M. C., & Schetter, C. D. (2005). Learning from success and failure in psychosocial intervention: An evaluation of low birth weight prevention trials. Journal of Health Psychology,10, 185–195.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, M. C., Tache, V., Alexander, G. R., Kotelchuck, M., & Halfon, N. (2003). Preventing low birth weight: Is prenatal care the answer? Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine,13, 362–380.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Main, D. M., Gabbe, S. G., Richardson, D., & Strong, S. (1985). Can preterm deliveries be prevented? American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,151, 892–898.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Main, D. M., Richardson, D. K., Hadley, C. B., & Gabbe, S. G. (1989). Controlled trial of a preterm labor detection program: Efficacy and costs. Obstetrics and Gynecology,74, 873–877.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malloy, M. H., Kao, T. C., & Lee, Y. J. (1992). Analyzing the effect of prenatal care on pregnancy outcome: A conditional approach. American Journal of Public Health,82, 448–450.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. A., Hamilton, B. E., Sutton, P. D., Ventura, S. J., Menacker, F., Kirmeyer, S., et al. (2007). Births: Final data for 2005. National Vital Statistics Reports,56(6), 1–103.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. A., Hamilton, B. E., Ventura, S. J., Menacher, F., Park, M. M., & Sutton, P. D. (2002). Births: Final data for 2001. National Vital Statistics Reports,51(2), 1–102.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDuffie, R. S., Jr., Beck, A., Bischoff, K., Cross, J., & Orleans, M. (1996). Effect of frequency of prenatal care visits on perinatal outcome among low-risk women. A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association,275(11), 847–851.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McEwen, B. S. (1998). Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. New England Journal of Medicine,338, 171–179.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, F. J., Altemeier, W. A., Christensen, M. J., Sherrod, K. B., Dietrich, M. S., & Stern, D. T. (1992). Randomized trial of comprehensive prenatal care for low-income women: Effect on infant birth weight. Pediatrics,89, 128–132.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meaney, M. J., Aitken, S., Sharma, S., Viau, V., & Sarrieau, A. (1989). Postnatal handling increases hippocampal type II glucocorticoid receptors and enhances adrenocortical negative-feedback efficacy in the rat. Journal of Neuroendocrinology,5, 597–604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, M. L., Meis, P. J., Ernest, J. M., Wells, H. B., Zaccaro, D. J., & Terrell, T. (1998). A randomized trial of nurse intervention to reduce preterm and low birth weight births. Obstetrics and Gynecology,91(5. Pt 1), 656–661.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J. L., & Bernfield, M. (1988). The differential effect of prenatal care on the incidence of low birth weight among blacks and whites in a prepaid health care plan. New England Journal of Medicine,319, 1385–1391.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mustard, A. C., & Roos, N. P. (1994). The relationship of prenatal care and pregnancy complications in birthweight in Winnipeg, Canada. American Journal of Public Health,84, 1450–1457.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mvula, M. M., & Miller, J. M. (1998). A comparative evaluation of collaborative prenatal care. Obstetrics and Gynecology,91(2), 169–173.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olds, D. L., Eckenrode, J., Henderson, C. R., Jr., Kitzman, H., Powers, J., Cole, R., et al. (1997). Long-term effects of home visitation on maternal life course and child abuse and neglect: 15-year follow-up of a randomized trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association,278, 637–643.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olds, D. L., Henderson, C. R., Jr., Cole, R., Eckenrode, J., Kitzman, H., Luckey, D., et al. (1998). Long-term effects of nurse home visitation on children’s criminal and antisocial behavior: 15-year follow-up of a randomized trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association,280, 1238–1244.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olds, D. L., Henderson, C. R. Jr., Tatelbaum, R., & Chamberlain, R. (1986). Improving the delivery of prenatal care and outcomes of pregnancy. A randomized control trial of nurse home visitation. Pediatrics,77, 16–28.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, B., McFarlane, J., & Soeken, K. (1994). Abuse during pregnancy: Effects on maternal complications and birth weight in adult and teenage women. Obstetrics and Gynecology,84, 323–328.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Partridge, C. A., & Holman, J. R. (2005). Effects of a reduced-visit prenatal care clinical practice guideline. The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice,18(6), 555–560.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perkocha, V. A., Novotny, T. E., Bradley, J. C., & Swanson, J. (1995). The efficacy of two comprehensive perinatal programs on reducing adverse perinatal outcomes. American Journal of Preventive Medicine,11(3 Suppl), 21–29.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Polednak, A. P. (1996). Trends in urban black infant mortality, by degree of residential segregation. American Journal of Public Health,86, 723–726.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quick, J. D., Greenlick, M. R., & Roghmann, K. J. (1981). Prenatal care and pregnancy outcome in an HMO and general population: A multivariate cohort analysis. American Journal of Public Health,71, 381–390.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quinlivan, J. A., & Evans, S. F. (2004). Teenage antenatal clinics may reduce the rate of preterm birth: A prospective study. BJOG,111(6), 571–578.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raine, T., Powell, S., & Krohn, M. (1994). The risk of repeating low birth weight and the role of prenatal care. Obstetrics and Gynecology,84, 485–489.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reichman, N. E., & Teitler, J. O. (2005). Timing of enhanced prenatal care and birth outcomes in New Jersey’s HealthStart program. Maternal and Child Health Journal,9(2), 151–158.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Nuncio, H. R., Pérez-Toga, G., Pérez-Rodriguez, P., & Vázquez-Nava, F. (2005). Impact of the prenatal care in the neonatal morbidity and mortality. Revista Médica del Instituto Mexicana del Seguro Social,43(5), 377–380.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky, R. M. (1995). Social subordinance as a marker of hypercortisolism: Some unexpected subtleties. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,771, 626–639.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sapolsky, R. M., Krey, P., & McEwen, B. (1984). Glucocorticoid-sensitive hippocampal neurons are involved in terminating the adrenocortical stress-response. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,81, 6174.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scholl, T. O., Miller, L. K., Salmon, R. W., Cofsky, M. C., & Shearer, J. (1987). Prenatal care adequacy and the outcome of adolescent pregnancy: Effects on weight gain, preterm delivery, and birth weight. Obstetrics and Gynecology,69, 312–316.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schramm, W. F. (1992). Weighing costs and benefits of adequate prenatal care for 12,023 births in Missouri’s Medicaid program, 1988. Public Health Reports,107, 647–652.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, S. (1962). Prenatal care, prematurity, and neonatal mortality. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,83, 591–598.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seckl, J. R. (1998). Physiologic programming of the fetus. Emerging Concepts in Perinatal Endocrinology,25, 939–962.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shiono, P. H., Kebanoff, M. A., Graubard, B. I., Berendes, H. W., & Rhoads, G. G. (1986). Birth weight among women of different ethnic groups. The Journal of the American Medical Association,255, 48–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Showstack, J. A., Budetti, P. P., & Minkler, D. (1984). Factors associated with birthweight: An exploration of the roles of prenatal care and length of gestation. American Journal of Public Health,74, 1003–1008.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, B., Thomas, H., & Morris, J. (1989). A randomized controlled trial of the provision of a social support service during pregnancy: The South Manchester Family Worker Project. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,74, 873–877.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sram, R. J., Binkova, B., Dejmek, J., & Bobak, M. (2005). Ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes: A review of the literature. Environmental Health Perspectives,113(4), 375–382.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taffel, S. (1978). Prenatal care: United States, 1969–1975. Vital and Health Statistics, Series 21, no 33. Washington, DC: National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tasnim, N., Mahmud, G., & Arif, M. S. (2005). Impact of reduced prenatal visit frequency on obstetric outcome in low-risk mothers. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons – Pakistan,15(1), 26–29.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, C. R., Alexander, G. R., & Hepworth, J. T. (2005). Clustering of U.S. women receiving no prenatal care: Differences in pregnancy outcomes and implications for targeting interventions. Maternal and Child Health Journal,9(2), 125–133.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Terris, M., & Glasser, M. (1974). A life table analysis of the relation of prenatal care to prematurity. American Journal of Public Health,64, 869–875.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tyson, J., Guzick, D., Rosenfeld, C. R., Lasky, R., Gant, N., Jiminez, J., et al. (1990). Prenatal care evaluation and cohort analyses. Pediatrics,85, 195–204.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • US Department of Health and Human Services. US Public Health Service. (1989). Caring for our future: The content of prenatal care. Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar, J., Carroli, G., Khan-Neelofur, D., Piaggio, G., & Gülmezoglu, M. (2002). Patterns of routine antenatal care for low-risk pregnancy (Cochrane Review). The Cochrane Library, Issue 3. Oxford: Update Software.

    Google Scholar 

  • Villar, J., Farnot, U., Barros, F., Victoria, C., Langer, A., & Belizan, J. M. (1992). A randomized trial of psychosocial support during high risk pregnancies. The Latin American Network for Perinatal and Reproductive Research. New England Journal of Medicine,327, 1266–1271.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vintzileos, A. M., Ananth, C. V., Smulian, J. C., & Scorza, W. E. (2003). The impact of prenatal care on preterm births among twin gestations in the United States, 1989–2000. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 189(3), 818–823.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vintzileos, A. M., Ananth, C. V., Smulian, J. C., Scorza, W. E., & Knuppel, R. A. (2002). The impact of prenatal care in the United States on preterm births in the presence and absence of antenatal high-risk conditions. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,187(5), 1254–1257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visintainer, P. F., Uman, J., Horgan, K., Ibald, A., Verma, U., & Tejani, N. (2000). Reduced risk of low weight births among indigent women receiving care from nurse-midwives. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 54(3), 233–238.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wadhwa, P. D. (1998). Prenatal stress and life-span development. In H. S. Friedman (Ed.), Encyclopedia of mental health (pp. 265–280), San Diego: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. W. (1915). The limitations and possibilities of prenatal care. The Journal of the American Medical Association, LXIV(2), 95–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zotti, M. E., & Zahner, S. J. (1995). Evaluation of public health nursing home visits to pregnant women on WIC. Public Health Nursing,12(5), 294–304.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, UCLA School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive S, CHS 36-070B, 951772, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA

    Michael C. Lu

Authors
  1. Hannah Holcombe Walford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sonya Trinh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anna Wiencrot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael C. Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael C. Lu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, West Taylor Street 1603, Chicago, 60612-4394, Illinois, USA

    Arden Handler

  2. School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, West Taylor Street 1603, Chicago, 60612-4394, Illinois, USA

    Joan Kennelly

  3. School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, West Taylor Street 1603, Chicago, 60612-4394, Illinois, USA

    Nadine Peacock

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer US

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Walford, H.H., Trinh, S., Wiencrot, A., Lu, M.C. (2011). What is the Role of Prenatal Care in Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pregnancy Outcomes?. In: Handler, A., Kennelly, J., Peacock, N. (eds) Reducing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Reproductive and Perinatal Outcomes. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1499-6_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1499-6_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1498-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1499-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation