Infant and Child Health

Jump to another page... Introduction Child restraints Household fire escape plan Routine checkups Child routine dental checkup Child mortality—years of potential life lost Immunizations Infant Mortality Fertility in women ages 15 to 44 Prenatal Care in first trimester Late or no prenatal care Low birth weight Fertility in females 12 to 17 years of age Prenatal care among teenage mothers Late or no prenatal care (teen) Low birth weight (teen) Prenatal care for single mothers Late or no prenatal care (single) Low birth weight (single)

Prenatal care among teenage mothers

Across Texas the percentage of teenage mothers who received prenatal care in the first trimester has increased slowly after a noticeable increase between 1992 and 1996. In 2004 the proportion of teenage mothers receiving early prenatal care in Bexar County (75 percent) was higher than the percentage for Texas (68 percent) and Harris County (66 percent). This pattern has been consistent since 1992.

Seventy-five percent of teenage mothers in Bexar County received prenatal care in the first trimester. In each sector in Bexar County the percentage of teen mothers starting prenatal care in the first trimester is equal to or exceeds the state average of 68 percent. Though the differences are small, in 2004, the percentage of teenage mothers who received prenatal care in the first trimester was highest in the South, West and East sectors.

Late or no prenatal care

The rate among teenage mothers who received either late or no prenatal care mirrors the early prenatal care rate. In 2004, 5.6 percent of teenage mothers received late or no prenatal care. This rate is lower than both the Texas (6.7 percent) and the Harris County (5.8 percent) rates. Trend information for prenatal care indicates that the rates across Texas dropped after 1992 and has remained fairly stable since 1996.

The percent of teenage mothers in all Bexar County sectors receiving late or no prenatal care is lower than the Texas rate with the exception of the Northeast sector. Differences in rates of late or no prenatal care demonstrate no discernable geographic pattern.

The fact that the rate for Bexar County teenage mothers receive late or no prenatal care is below the state average is notable. However, it is important that all mothers obtain prenatal care. The earlier prenatal care begins, the better chance for good outcomes for baby and mother. For teenage mothers, the importance of beginning prenatal care early is greater because the age of the mother puts her at greater risk.

Low Birth Weight

Good prenatal care helps reduce risk in pregnancy and lowers the risk of low birth weight. In Bexar County, 9.9 percent of the 1,463 births in 2004 to teenage mothers were below 2,500 grams. This is slightly higher than the 8.8 percent of low birth weight among all births. The Bexar County low birth weight rate is similar to low birth weight rates for teenage mothers in Harris County (9.5 percent) and Texas (10.2 percent). Overall, the rate trends indicate that the percent of low birth weight births to teenage mothers has remained relatively stable since 1992.

Within Bexar County, the teenage mother low birth weight rates are somewhat higher (9.9 percent) than the rate for mothers of all ages (8.8 percent). Rates vary from a low of 7.5 percent low birth weight births in the North Central sector to 11 percent in the East and West sectors. Both the East and West sectors are slightly higher than the state low birth weight rate. It is likely that the social determinants of health have an impact on low birth weight. The levels of income and education are the most identifiable influences on health but factors such as social cohesion and feeling safe in the community also may play a role by increasing social support for mothers.

Public health professionals often express concern about births to teenage mothers but little is attention is paid to births to single mothers over the age of 18.