More pregnant Georgians are skipping prenatal care, CDC finds
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Fewer pregnant Georgians are getting prenatal care in the first weeks of pregnancy — or at all, new CDC data show.
Why it matters: Skipping first-trimester care raises the risk of preventable complications for moms and babies.
By the numbers: First-trimester prenatal care rose from 77.1% of U.S. births in 2016 to 78.3% in 2021 — but slid to 75.5% in 2024, per a CDC analysis of birth certificates.
- In Georgia, those receiving late or no prenatal care increased from 7.9% to 11.4% between 2021 and 2024, a 44% increase, per the CDC data.
- Late or no care increased in at least 36 states and D.C. in that same period — rising nationally from 6.3% to 7.3%.
- The shift spanned every age group and nearly all racial and ethnic groups.
What we're hearing: If caught early, conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can often be managed to lower risks for mom and baby — sometimes with "easy interventions" like starting aspirin, says Alex Peahl, OB-GYN and ACOG Fellow.
- As more patients enter pregnancy with chronic conditions, early treatment becomes even more critical.
Between the lines: The growing number of maternity care deserts and hospital closures are the main drivers of the uptick in Georgia, state Department of Public Health spokesperson Nancy Nydam Shirek told Axios.
- 82 counties currently have no OB/GYNs, Nydam said, citing the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce. 108 counties have no labor and delivery facilities.
Zoom in: DPH's free home visit program aims to connect pregnant moms and babies with nurses for the basic check-ups and check-ins that can catch problems early.
- Home visits, which are meant to complement, not replace, OB/GYN visits, are now available in 75 counties. The state will add 21 more counties in the upcoming fiscal year.
The state is also investing in workforce development, including a new medical school in Athens, to increase the number of health care professionals in Georgia.
What we're watching: Whether health systems respond to access pressures by adopting any of ACOG's new tailored prenatal care guidance — coauthored by Peahl — such as streamlining prenatal care for low-risk patients into only eight to nine visits.