Prenatal care, or lack thereof, has a big problem in the country, was particularly here in East Texas, where it is estimated that almost ha...
Prenatal care, or lack thereof, has a big problem in the country, was particularly here in East Texas, where it is estimated that almost half of pregnant women do not receive care in their first trimester.
This is based on the health status of the West recently published UT and UT Health System of East Texas, the data between 2011 and 2013. The analysis estimates in Smith County were similar in 2013 Evaluation of Community Health Texas, indicating that only 45, 5 percent of women in the county early prenatal care in the first quarter began.
"The late entry into prenatal care throughout Texas is high, but especially in North Texas," said Dr. Eileen Open, assistant professor of public health at the UT Health northeastern Professor.
has to start in the three years for which data are available, the proportion of births to women in North Texas that no prenatal care in the first quarter, said Dr. Open.
"More work is needed to understand whether or how late entry is seen in prenatal care in this region, infant mortality," he said. "However, we can say that the late entry into prenatal care, a missed opportunity is to support a woman during her pregnancy and manage health conditions that can lead to poor birth outcomes."
Dr. Open said the healthy people 2020 target for the proportion of pregnant women receiving prenatal care in the first quarter to 77.9 percent. In 2013, this figure was 62.4 percent in Texas, and only 52.6 percent for the Northeast Texas.
Why is the first of the best
In the first trimester of pregnancy or the first 12 weeks, it is essential for the baby. Meanwhile, placenta, blood cells and blood flow develops. Towards the end of the third month the fetus is fully developed. The most critical developments rather than the three months and the risk of miscarriage decreases at the end of the first quarter.
To see the doctor in the first 12 weeks, to identify the problems with the baby or mother should be monitored.
Doctors also educate mothers about what to expect during pregnancy and childbirth.
One of the tests, ultrasound and counseling looking for genetic disorders, infections and behaviors that could harm the child.
"The sooner we people when they have problems, not medical or previous surgeries is substance abuse problems - can answer better," said Dr. Adam Newman, an obstetrician / gynecologist at ETMC-Jacksonville.
Newman estimates that nearly 20 percent of the patients who come later, the first 12 weeks.
There are many reasons why some women come later to obstetricians, most of it has to do with the socio-economic status and access to care.
Chris Taylor, Executive Director in Cherokee County District Public Health, said he believes that the reasons for the lack of prenatal care leading lack of transportation include, low-wage jobs that allow not always that people gain access to care, a limited number suppliers, language barriers and a high rate of uninsured.
not recognize other women they are pregnant.
"There are some people who do not know, because they have a regular time," Newman said. "Others may be in denial. If they do not think, do not think about it."
For low-income mothers, the Medicaid application may take some time because a scheduled eligibility and documentation is to present date. Some programs in some areas accept pregnant women who have not yet been approved for Medicaid, but others require payment at the time of service.
"It's a process," said Tecora Smith, director of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in North Texas Public Health District. "If the mother until they are 12 weeks pregnant and a few weeks later, it is takes some time."
The lack of awareness about the importance of prenatal care is another reason why health experts said it common in younger mothers, especially teenagers. Newman said that pregnant women should be available with information on the care and prenatal services are being bombarded.
"Access is not the problem," Newman said, noting that the three obstetricians in Jacksonville. "We do not beat people. It's about creating the awareness that they should go early."
But for those public health work, there is another perspective, Taylor said. While done in the county obstetricians ETMC work meets a need, there are still gaps where care services.
"Many women leave our county for prenatal care elsewhere, like Tyler, Henderson and Nacogdoches," said Taylor. "Based on numerous data sources and personal experiences with the people in the community who would respectfully disagree that our current suppliers levels sufficiently. Although I that suppliers have to say we are excellent perspective here. Public Health is always a little more of a his big picture perspective of health care. "
Taylor also points out that although the analysis of available data is a starting point, may not always be accurate.
"Often, the data is not specific individuals represent very good," he said. "For example, you can have a safe, but if only covers major medical (costs) and does not include the important annual reviews, etc. They really have a good insurance? In short, I think there are young people and other types of pregnancies they do not adequately investigated. "
teen births
As reported by the health of the county ranking "pregnant adolescents are more likely than older women do not get late or achieve pregnancy hypertension and anemia antenatal care and a bad decision, weight of the mother." They are also more likely to premature birth and infant with low birth weight have, which increases the risk of developmental delays, illness and mortality.
Cherokee County, the birth rate among teenage girls is 72 per 1000 in the population aged 15-19. It is higher than any of the eight neighboring counties Smith, and higher than the rate of 52 per 1,000 live births in the state.
But again, Taylor said the data may not always show the whole picture. If young people do not receive prenatal care because of embarrassment or social stigma, these statistics may be underestimated.
"We tend to find that most young people to hide the fact that do not contribute care or lack of support," said Taylor. "If young people do not receive prenatal care, it is not registered in the rates of teenage pregnancy. Often they turn to friends, they are ready but not able to help to make the resources available."
the solution of the problem
Smith County, Texas Healthy Babies subsidies allows a coalition of health workers to raise awareness of women and men at universities, their manufacturers and barber shops and beauty.
Discuss family planning, birth control, nutrition and prepare the body for conception.
"That is the subsidy is that we use from 18 to 45 children to educate women of childbearing age and also offered to educate on education before conception," Smith said.
The initiative urges leading provider ask your customers important questions about access to healthy foods, birth control, and if you are planning to become pregnant.
Mrs Smith said direct customers to the hospitals with health programs for women, such as UT Health North or Tyler Family Circle of Care. Tell them also services in the health center or a healthy life.
"I do not think people realize that they have a program to see that if they qualify for Medicaid," said Smith. "It's to educate them not, if they know where to go."
Ensure early antenatal care was a concern for the health officials Cherokee County for some time. The district has shown some of the worst health outcomes in the region, it has a high poverty rate, a high rate of uninsured, at 29 percent, and also do not at other factors that determine health.
Cherokee County Public Health provides primary care, but was a Federal District Tyler family associated Qualified Health Center - address to help access for the uninsured care.
They hope to pregnant women, treat, care in the emergency room for common complications during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia or diabetes.
You should also bring more health workers in the community, to reach the public, help patients their care navigate, find a provider that offer educational information in Spanish and in partnership with hospitals and outreach agencies continuity of care through the health care system to ensure.
