Researcher(s)
- Julia Nelson, , University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Elizabeth Fournier, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware
Abstract
Early initiation to prenatal care is essential for the health of the mother and child, as it has been proven to decrease risks of unfavorable birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and preterm birth, and impact maternal health postpartum. Health insurance-based discrimination has been proven to be a barrier in accessing healthcare. This study will aim to explore the relationship between insurance type, whether a pregnant person searching for prenatal care has public or private insurance, and accessibility and initiation of prenatal care. Sociodemographic factors, such as race/ethnicity, age, and marital status, will also be evaluated for any trends. Data for a pilot study will be taken from the Delaware Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a survey-based dataset that collects information regarding the mother and their pregnancy, before, during, and after pregnancy. The questions that will be analyzed in this proposed study are related to maternal insurance type during prenatal care, month prenatal care was initiated, and contentment with access to care. This research would aim to highlight groups that may be at risk for late initiation of prenatal care and barriers in access to care, in order to provide policy makers with information regarding the adequacy of health insurance in terms of access to care for mothers.