Early Prenatal Care Declining in US: CDC Data

A recent CDC analysis indicates a decline in early prenatal care initiation in the United States, with the proportion of mothers beginning care in the first trimester falling from 78.3% in 2021 to 75.5% in 2024. Concurrently, second-trimester starts and late or no care both increased. The findings underscore the established importance of early prenatal care, which is associated with healthier pregnancy outcomes and reduced risks such as low birth weight and infant mortality.

Disparities were evident, with the steepest declines among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women; in 2024, fewer than half received first-trimester care. Late or no care rose across most states, exceeding one in ten births in several jurisdictions, highlighting ongoing access and equity challenges relevant to public health communication and outreach efforts. Read more from The Hill here.