What does this measure?

The proportion of births in which began prenatal care began during the first trimester of pregnancy (before 13 weeks gestation), out of all live births.

Why is this important?

Early, high-quality prenatal care is critical to reducing risks for complications of pregnancy or birth and improving birth outcomes.

How is the Greater Capital Region performing?

In 2007, 79% of mothers in the Greater Capital Region reported receiving early prenatal care, five percentage points higher than the statewide rate. The rate in the region has historically been slightly higher than the state’s, but remains below the Healthy People 2010 national goal of having 90% of all births start with prenatal care in the first trimester. The rate was generally highest in Saratoga County.

Notes about the data

The rate excludes the number of live births for which the date of entry into prenatal care is unknown. In addition to when prenatal care began, it is also important to consider the quality and continuity of care received throughout the pregnancy.