Internal and external barriers to obtaining prenatal care.

Few studies have examined the reasons women do not obtain medical care during their pregnancies. A retrospective case review of 70 patients in a large metropolitan hospital who received minimal prenatal care examined demographic variables and reasons women gave for not seeking care. Data suggested there are both internal and external barriers to care. More women cited reasons including depression, denial, and fear than cited financial or transportation problems. Implications for social work intervention in the hospital and in the community are drawn from the data and discussed.