Early and Adequate Prenatal Care

From 2018-2022 in King County, 69.2% 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 51.6%. Birthing people ages 18-24 were also less likely than the County average to receive early and adequate prenatal care at 58.2%.  

• Race and ethnicity: Babies born to Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (45.9%), Black (62.5%), Hispanic (67.0%), American Indian/Alaska Native (57.5%), and multiple race (64.7%) birthing people were less likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care compared to the King County average. Looking at more detailed races and ethnicities, babies born to Mexican, Native Hawaiian, and Samoan birth parents were also less likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care than King County average.  

• Income: There is an income gradient in receiving early and adequate prenatal care. When compared to the King County average, babies born to people in high poverty neighborhoods (65.6%) were less likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care whereas babies born to people in medium (71.2%) and low poverty neighborhoods (70.7%) 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 (72.7-74.6%) had higher rates of receiving early and adequate prenatal care compared to the King County average. Babies born to people with a without a degree in higher education (58.1-66.7%) were less likely to have adequate and early prenatal care compared to the King County average.  

• Geography: Babies born to people in Seattle (74.8%) and in North King County (75.0%) were more likely to receive early and adequate prenatal care compared to the King County average. Babies born to people residing in East (65.6%) and South (66.6%) King County were less likely to receive adequate and early prenatal care than the King County average. 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 72.7% in 2016-2018 to 67.6% in 2020-2022. The rate of early and adequate prenatal care fell even more for Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander birthing people over this time period, from 49.1% to 41.1%.