Early, high-quality prenatal care is critical to reducing risks for complications of pregnancy or birth and improving birth outcomes.

In general, early prenatal care rates among White mothers are higher than rates for African American and Hispanic mothers and mothers identifying as other racial/ethnic groups. In 2023, 65% of African American, 69% of Hispanic, and 75% of mothers in the other racial/ethnic group in Westchester County received early prenatal care, compared to 84% of White mothers. These rates are all higher than New York State and generally close to or slightly lower than Nassau and Putnam rates and above Rockland rates.

Since 2006, the rates of early prenatal care in Westchester have increased for all race/ethnicities except for Black or African Americans, which remained the same. The rate among mothers in the 'other' group increased 10 points, followed by Hispanic mothers with an increase of 7 points, and White mothers with an increase of 6 points. However, over the last decade (since 2013), the rate for all racial groups decreased with Hispanic mothers seeing the largest decrease of 7 percentage points.

Researchers have uncovered a number of factors contributing to generally lower rates of early prenatal care among mothers of color. These include: socioeconomic characteristics like education and family income; maternal health and characteristics of pregnancies (such as maternal age and number of previous pregnancies); types of insurance coverage - whether women are covered by Medicaid, private insurance, or have no coverage; and the location of prenatal care facilities - in physicians' offices and public health clinics. One study found socioeconomic differences was responsible for roughly half the gap - pregnant women with lower incomes and levels of formal education often do not have the resources necessary to obtain care early and often - but that public programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children increased access to care.

The rate excludes the number of live births for which the date of entry into prenatal care is unknown. In addition to considering when prenatal care began, it is also important to understand the quality and continuity of care received throughout the pregnancy. The categories shown are those that are tracked by the state Health Department.