Factors in the utilization of prenatal services by low-income black women.

Research indicates that low-income black women tend to receive inadequate prenatal care. To gain greater insight into why only some of these women initiate early prenatal care, this article's study investigated factors in the utilization of prenatal care, with race, residence and income as controlled variables. Using a convenience sample of 69 low-income, pregnant black women, interviews revealed that seeking early and frequent prenatal care may be determined primarily by need factors, such as the presence of risk factors or symptoms. Enabling factors, specifically financial barriers, did not have as great an influence on the use of services as expected. An unanticipated finding was that many women delayed care because they were not aware of the pregnancy. This study indicates that clinicians may need to provide more education about prenatal care to women at risk of delaying care.