Perceived barriers to prenatal care services

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine barriers to prenatal care services and to determine if barriers differed by demographic characteristics in a low-income population. Design: Descriptive correlational study with 110 women who sought prenatal care after the 20th week of gestation. Results: Two items were major barriers to seeking prenatal care: long waiting times at the time of appointments and the cost of getting care. Significant relationships were found based on the age and race of the women. Clinical Implications: Some identifiable variables prevented these women from seeking early prenatal care; however, the barriers identified are amenable to change. Strategies to reduce barriers could include providing more culturally competent care, more timely appointments, better use of the woman's time when appointments are kept, educating women in the community about the availability of low-cost care, and assistance at prenatal care sites for facilitating completion of insurance and financial applications. Barriers to prenatal care varied by demographic group; therefore, identifying the characteristics of the group being served seems important in efforts to decrease barriers to care.