Prenatal care and pregnancy outcome.

The relationship of prenatal care to perinatal outcome was studied in a racially and socioeconomically homogeneous population. All patients who were delivered at the E. H. Crump Women's Hospital and Perinatal Center from July 1 to December 31, 1979, were divided into two groups, based on the amount of prenatal care received. One group of 1,102 patients had 0 to 3 prenatal visits (average 1.43); the second group, consisting of 2,027 patients, had four or more visits (average 12.78). Both groups were similar with respect to age, marital status, previous obstetric history, and initial risk assessment. However, the group with inadequate prenatal care had significantly higher fetal, neonatal, and perinatal mortality rates.