Adequate Prenatal Care (2000–2023)

Definition

Percentage of births wherein prenatal care was begun by the fourth month of pregnancy and 80.0 percent or more of the recommended prenatal visits were made. This indicator is also known as the “adequacy of prenatal care utilization index.” Four categories comprise this index:  “adequate-plus care” (prenatal care begun by the fourth month and 110 percent or more of the recommended visits were made); “adequate care” ( begun by the fourth month and 80-109 percent of the recommended visits were made), “intermediate care” ( begun by the fourth month and from 50-79 percent of the recommended visits were made), and “inadequate care” (no care, begun after
the fourth month, or instances wherein less than 50 percent of the recommended visits made).  The data reported herein represent the sum of the “adequate” and “adequate-plus” categories of the index.  For more information see, M. Kotelchuck, “An Evaluation of the Kessner Adequacy of Prenatal Care Index and a Proposed Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index,” American Journal of Public Health, 1994, 84[9]:1,414-1,420.

Data Source

Alabama Department of Public Health, Center for Health Statistics, Selected Maternal and Child Health Statistics, 2013, Table 9 and Alabama Vital Statistics, 2023, Table 11.
Notes: (1) Variations in prenatal care percentages over the last few years may reflect in part changes in data collection methodology.

Special tabulations
provided by the Alabama
Department of Public Health,
Center for Health Statistics.

For more information see,
M.Kotelchuck, “An Evaluation
of the Kessner Adequacy of
Prenatal Care Index and a
Proposed Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index,” American
Journal of Public Health,
1994, 84[9]:1, 414-1,420.

Notes

Formerly, these data were collected directly from mothers at the time of birth.  They are now collected by hospitals from healthcare providers. (2) No information was reported regarding the adequacy of prenatal care for 213 births in Russell County in 2013 (23.8 percent of all births) and 26 births in Sumter County (17.7 percent of all births).

Last Updated

2026-03