Barriers to receiving adequate prenatal care

One hundred eleven postpartum patients who received varying amounts of prenatal care (no care, inadequate care, intermediate care, and adequate care) were assessed for demographic, medical and sociocultural factors by interview and review of the medical chart. Six sociocultural factors identified by stepwise multiple regression contributed to 49% of the variance for amount of prenatal care: amount of insurance, attitudes toward health professionals, delays in suspecting pregnancy, delay in telling others about the pregnancy, perception of the importance of prenatal care, and initial attitudes about being pregnant. Results are discussed in terms of developing outreach programs altered to the patient's needs and life-styles.