title: Immigration legal status and use of public programs and prenatal care.
abstract: This study assessed impacts of immigrants' legal status on utilization of prenatal care and public programs by non-citizen women. Interviews and chart reviews of 171 women were conducted less than 48 hours after delivery at an urban hospital. Among non-citizens, 67% were legally documented. No differences in prenatal care adequacy by legal status were detected among non-citizens, who as a group had less health insurance, worse socioeconomics, and less program use compared to U.S. citizens. Non-citizens also were less aware of newborn's citizenship and eligibility for public programs and benefits. Non-citizens utilized fewer programs while reporting greater economic hardship than citizens; however, non-citizens selectively used programs important for pregnancy. Given changes in eligibility for federal programs and high rates of reported food insecurity and socioeconomic hardship among non-citizens, monitoring for adverse effects on utilization of prenatal care and birth outcomes is needed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Geltman
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Meyers