EARLY PRENATAL CARE RATES DROP FOR WHITE AND BLACK MOTHERS
Increasing the number of women who receive early prenatal care (in the first trimester of pregnancy) can improve birth outcomes and lower health care costs by reducing the likelihood of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Babies born to mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care. Early prenatal care allows women and their health care providers to identify and, when possible, treat health problems and correct health-compromising behaviors that can be particularly damaging during the initial stages of fetal development.[1] This indicator tracks early prenatal care rates for San Bernardino County, including detail by race and ethnicity.
TREND
The rate of San Bernardino County mothers receiving early prenatal care increased slightly (0.3 percentage points) from 81.8% in 2019 to 82.1% in 2020 and remains above the national Healthy People 2030 objective of 80.5%. Over the past 10 years, the number of live births in San Bernardino County decreased 13%, from 30,566 live births in 2011 to 26,706 in 2020.
OVERALL, PRENATAL CARE RATES REMAINED STEADY IN 2020
Percentage of Mothers Receiving Early Prenatal Care by Race and Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2011-2020
What is Healthy People 2030?
Healthy People 2030 is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative that establishes national objectives to improve the health of all Americans, to eliminate disparities in health, and to increase the years and quality of healthy life.
RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL
In 2020, Asian/Pacific Islander mothers had the highest early prenatal care rate (85.7%), followed by White mothers (83.3%). At 76.3%, Black mothers had early prenatal care rates below the Healthy People 2030 objective of 80.5%. While disparities persist, these relatively high levels of early prenatal care for all race/ethnic groups contributes to a low Equity Gap Score of 1.1. Prenatal care rates declined for White and Black mothers and increased or stayed the same for all other ethnicities/races between 2019 and 2020.
BLACK MOTHERS HAVE LOWEST EARLY PRENATAL CARE RATE
Early Prenatal Care Rate by Race/Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2020
| Race/Ethnicity | Prenatal Care Rate |
|---|---|
| Black | 76.3% |
| Two+ | 81.1% |
| Average | 82.1% |
| Latina | 82.1% |
| White | 83.3% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 85.7% |
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Natality on CDC WONDER Online Database
The majority of births in San Bernardino County are to Latina mothers (57%), followed by White mothers (19%), Asian mothers (8%), Black mothers (8%), and those of two or more races (2%).
ALMOST 6-IN-10 BIRTHS IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ARE TO LATINA MOTHERS
Live Births by Race and Ethnicity in San Bernardino County, 2020
[1] Child Trends (http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=late-or-no-prenatal-care)