Prenatal care utilization among non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans, and Mexican Americans.
OBJECTIVE
The general objective of this study is to explain differentials in prenatal care (PNC) utilization in a nationally representative sample of non-Hispanic White (Anglo), African American, and Mexican American women.


METHODS
The analysis is based on the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey. Multivariate, multinomial logistic regression models were employed to adjust for demographic, socioeconomic, medical risk, and program participation factors, as well as for perceived barriers. Both race/ethnic-specific models and models with race/ethnicity as a covariate were estimated.


RESULTS
Inadequate PNC use was much less common among Anglos (10.4%) as compared to African Americans and Mexican Americans (22.1% and 25.0%, respectively). In fully adjusted models, the odds ratio (OR) of African Americans receiving inadequate PNC was 1.46, while the risk for Mexican Americans was greater (OR = 1.93). Perception of obstacles to PNC access doubled the odds of receiving inadequate care, but this psychosocial variable had little impact on race/ethnic differentials. Race/ethnic-specific models uncovered potentially important racial/ethnic variations associated with perception of barriers, marital status, and program participation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the same risk factors sometimes have different effects across race/ethnic groups, and while certain findings indicate a beneficial impact of health outreach efforts and program participation, our findings support the conclusion that PNC utilization continues to be stratified along race/ethnic lines.
Frisbie
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WP
Population Research Center, Department of Sociology, University of Texas at Austin, 78712, USA. frisbie@prc.utexas.edu
Echevarria
S
S
Hummer
R A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009309:National Center for Health Statistics, U.S.; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*