Factors related to the initiation of prenatal care in the adolescent nullipara

Initiation of prenatal care by adolescents in their first pregnancy is most strongly predicted by the availability and adequacy of health care resources, according to a study involving 51 subjects at a university clinic. The ease or perceived ease of getting a medical card for the clinic was positively associated with the timing of prenatal care. A number of potential structural and nonstructural barriers to prenatal care were examined.