title: Factors predicting the initiation of prenatal care in Mexican women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe factors related to the initiation of prenatal care (PNC) among pregnant Mexican women.
  
  
  METHODS
  descriptive correlational.
  
  
  METHODS
  public prenatal clinic in Monterrey, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  253 pregnant Mexican women aged 13-46 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  structured interviews were conducted to obtain information concerning demographics, reproductive history, current pregnancy, perceptions of benefits and barriers of PNC, negative attitudes towards pregnancy and social support. Late initiation of PNC was reported by 47% of participants. Factors related to PNC initiation were education, perceived benefits or barriers, and negative attitudes towards pregnancy. Women who initiated PNC at an early stage were more likely to live with a partner, had a higher educational level and anticipated desirable personal benefits of PNC. Perceptions of barriers to PNC impeded early initiation of care. Social support did not influence PNC initiation. Negative attitudes towards pregnancy increased the likelihood of late PNC initiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  screening for negative attitudes towards pregnancy, partner status, educational level and perceived health-care barriers among pregnant Mexican women is important. Health-care providers may then address these psychosocial risk factors through PNC interventions promoting early initiation of care.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Tarapaca, 18 de Septiembre 2222, Arica, Chile. aquelopa@uta.cl
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Quelopana
authors.forename: Jane Dimmitt
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: Bertha C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Salazar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D017533:Marital Status; D008800:Mexico; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult