Barriers to prenatal care among Black women of low socioeconomic status

Objective: To qualitatively identify attitudinal and psychosocial determinants of early prenatal care among Black women of low socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Focus group discussions were conducted among Black women who attended community clinics for prenatal care. Results: Early initiators of prenatal care, compared with late initiators, had positive attitudes toward pregnancy, were knowledgeable about pregnancy signs/symptoms, and thought pre-natal care was important. All participants indicated strong social support during pregnancy. Late initiators, particularly multiparous women, perceived clinic staff to be insensitive. Conclusions: Findings provide valuable insight into overcoming barriers to early initiation of prenatal care among low SES Black women.