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Oklahoma is tied with South Carolina, ranking 26 (of 50) for adequate prenatal care. Vermont leads the nation with 87.1% of women receiving adequate prenatal care, while Hawaii ranks the lowest at 63%.
Percent of women who received adequate pregnancy-related care in 2023.
Source: March of Dimes
Receiving adequate prenatal care means having access to comprehensive and timely medical services, screenings, and support that help ensure the health and well-being of both the pregnant person and the developing fetus throughout pregnancy.
It involves a series of healthcare services designed to monitor the pregnancy, identify and address potential complications, and provide guidance for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth.
Prenatal care is considered adequate when it begins within the first four months of pregnancy and continues based on the infant’s gestational age.
Adequate access to prenatal care is vital to the health and well-being of the mother and baby during pregnancy. Regular visits allow moms to address health concerns throughout the pregnancy and allow providers to screen for possible complications.
A key marker of fetal development is weight, as it is an important part of physical and cognitive development for the baby. The infant death rate is five times higher if the mother does not seek prenatal care.
Women with chronic health conditions have 45% increased likelihood of preterm birth compared to those with none. Pregnancy-related ailments like gestational diabetes (diabetes developed during pregnancy), preeclampsia (high blood pressure), and mental health disorders, are rare but can harm both mother and child during and after birth. Adequate prenatal care drastically increases the chance they will be detected and addressed.
Specialized healthcare programs for low-income pregnant Oklahomans have existed for years, but the 2021 expansion of Medicaid (called SoonerCare or SoonerSelect in Oklahoma) and further extensions to cover more pregnancy-related services for longer (up to one year postpartum) has dramatically increased the scope of care available to mothers. (see Women Enrolled in Medicaid/SoonerCare).
Undocumented women do not qualify for SoonerCare or SoonerSelect. Instead, a program called Soon-to-be-Sooners is available and is specifically designed to cover healthcare costs strictly related to the health of the fetus.
This issue brief was written by Metriarch staff as part of our Data Lookbook. Contributions and peer review were provided by Barbara O’Brien with the Oklahoma Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (OPQIC).
Suggested citation
Metriarch. “Access to Quality Care,” Data Lookbook (2025). URL: metriarchok.org/adequate-prenatal-care.
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