Working Paper: NBER ID: w24885
Authors: Hope Corman; Dhaval M. Dave; Nancy Reichman
Abstract: Research on the effects of prenatal care on birth outcomes has produced a patchwork of findings that are not easily summarized. Studies have used varying definitions of prenatal care, leading to estimates that are difficult to compare. The identification of causal effects is particularly challenging in this literature because women enter pregnancy with varying states of health, resources and the desire to have a child and it is not feasible to conduct randomized controlled trials that deny care. The content and quality of prenatal care can vary, even across individuals initiating care at the same point in their pregnancies and with similar medical and psychosocial issues. In this chapter, we review the literature on the effects of prenatal care on birth outcomes, highlighting studies with strong research designs and plausible effect sizes. We reconcile the findings to the extent possible, summarize what is known to date, and point to potentially fruitful research directions going forward.
Keywords: Prenatal Care; Birth Outcomes; Health Economics
JEL Codes: I12; I14; I18
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Each month of delayed prenatal care (J13) | birth weight (J13) |
| Medicaid expansions (I18) | low birth weight (J13) |
| Enhanced prenatal care programs (I19) | birth weight (J13) |
| Adequate prenatal care (J13) | incidence of low birth weight (J19) |
| Each month of prenatal care delay (J13) | birth weight (J13) |