Early and Adequate Prenatal Care

From 2019-2023 in King County, 68.4% of babies were born to people who received early and adequate prenatal care. Getting early and adequate prenatal care is important for lowering the risk of low birthweight and other poor pregnancy outcomes. Additionally, it can improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. Early prenatal care means beginning within the first trimester and participating in at least 80% of the recommended number of prenatal care visits based on when care was started. 

• Age: The likelihood of receiving early and adequate prenatal care increases with age. Babies born to people younger than 18 were least likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care, at 49.0%. Birthing people ages 18-24 were also less likely than older birthing parents to receive early and adequate prenatal care at 57.0%.  

• Race and ethnicity: Babies born to Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (41.8%),and American Indian/Alaska Native (55.3%) birthing people were the least likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care e. Looking at more detailed races and ethnicities, babies born to Native Hawaiian (57.4%) and Samoan (49.2%) birth parents were also least likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care.  

• Income: There is an income gradient in receiving early and adequate prenatal care. Babies born to people in high poverty neighborhoods (64.8% - 68.7%) were less likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care than babies born to people in medium (70.5%) and low poverty neighborhoods (69.8%) were more likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care. 

• Birthing person’s education: Babies born to people with a bachelor’s or higher educational degree (71.8% --74.5%) had higher rates of receiving early and adequate prenatal care compared to those born to people with a without a degree in higher education (58.3-65.4%).  

• Region and city/neighborhood: Babies born to people in Seattle (74.3%) and in North King County (74.0%) were more likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care than those born to people residing in East (64.2%) and South (65.8%) King County. Babies born to people residing in Bellevue – Central had the lowest rate of receiving early and adequate prenatal care of all King County cities and neighborhoods, at 55.9%.  

• Trends over time: The proportion of babies born to people who received early and adequate prenatal has decreased from 72.8% in 2016-2018 to 68.1% in 2021-2023. The rate of early and adequate prenatal care fell even more for Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander birthing people over this time period, from 49.0% to 40.0%.