CDC: Pregnancies without prenatal care rise amid declining US birth rates

Editor's Note

The percentage of new mothers without any prenatal care is rising amid an overall decline in US birth rates, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NBC News reported on the data August 21.

According to the article, CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics found that in 2023, 2.3% of mothers received no prenatal care, up from 2.2% in 2022. The trend may be influenced by the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has limited access to OB/GYN care in some areas.

Sources cited in the article say the trend may be influenced by the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has limited access to OB/GYN care in some areas. They also highlight the challenge of accessing prenatal care in certain counties, noting that the need to travel for such care can deter women with limited resources. Others focus on the the importance of prenatal monitoring to detect potential health issues, such as birth defects or pregnancy-related high blood pressure, which can lead to severe complications if untreated.

The CDC report also indicates a 2% decline in the number of births, with just under 3.6 million babies born in 2023, NBC News reports. This decrease continues a decades-long trend, following a brief increase during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the birth rate among teenage girls aged 15 to 19 fell by 4%, from 13.6 to 13.1 births per 1,000. The rate among younger teens (15-17 years) has stabilized at 5.6% since 2021.