Early prenatal care declines across US, reversing years of progress

By: Anna Claire Vollers

Outlets: Stateline

Published: February 27, 2026

Words: 489

Last Updated: 5 days, 15 hours ago

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Nearly a quarter of pregnant women aren’t getting prenatal care in the early stages of pregnancy, according to a new analysis from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The share of pregnant women getting prenatal care had been improving: It rose between 2016 and 2021 to a high of more than 78%, but then declined to 75.5% by 2024, wiping out previous gains.

The trend is worrying because getting care early in …

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