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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Jan;198(1):75.e1-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.05.040.

Prenatal health care beyond the obstetrics service: utilization and predictors of unscheduled care

Urania Magriples  1 , Trace S Kershaw, Sharon Schindler Rising, Zohar Massey, Jeannette R Ickovics
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Prenatal health care beyond the obstetrics service: utilization and predictors of unscheduled care

Urania Magriples et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the patient characteristics of prenatal care utilization within and outside of routine obstetric care, and the clinical and psychosocial factors that predict care utilization.

Study design: Four hundred twenty pregnant women enrolled in a randomized controlled trial receiving prenatal care in a university-affiliated clinic. All hospital encounters were obtained by review of computerized databases. The Kotelchuck index (KI) was computed, and the characteristics of inadequate, adequate, or excessive prenatal care were described. Demographic and psychosocial predictors of unscheduled visits were evaluated.

Results: A total of 50.5% of women were adequate users by KI, with 19% being inadequate. An average of 5 additional unscheduled encounters occurred (standard deviation 4.2; range, 0-26). Almost 75% of participants made an unscheduled obstetric visit, with 38% making 2 or more unscheduled visits. Overweight/obese, younger women, high symptom distress, and excessive and inadequate prenatal users were more likely to utilize the labor floor before delivery.

Conclusion: Unscheduled care is common during pregnancy.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Health care utilization during pregnancy
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Total number of additional visits by adequacy of prenatal care
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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