Agenda - 12-03-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ANALYSIS OF HEALTH DATA E PREGNANCY AND PRENATAL CARE On the whole, the pregnancy rate in Orange County was 16 lower than that of the state of North Carolina during the year 1988 (O.C. - 72.4; N.C.- 86.1), However, when these rates are stratified by race, it becomes clear that the lowered total rate is affected by the white, female population in the county. The nonwhite population has a pregnancy- rate approximately 14% greater than that of the total nonwhite population in the state. The pregnancy rate of nonwhite women in Orange County is over twice that of white women-in the county. (Nonwhite - 129.0; White - 60.0). Therefore, not only are nonwhite women in Orange County experiencing a pregnancy rate significantly higher than white women within the county but also significantly higher than other nonwhite women in the state. (Table 5) When these pregnancy rates are further stratified by age, it becomes clear, however, that Orange County rates are not uniformly lower than the state. Pregnancy rates for women 15 -24 are 520 less than that of the state, and the rates for women 25 -44 are over twice that of the state. The teenage pregnancy rate (15 -19 years of age) is 46% lower than that of the state. However, the rate for ages 10 -14 is higher than the state (O.C. - 4.2; N.C. - 3.7) (See Table 6) Women, overall, in Orange County are more likely to receive adequate prenatal care than are women in North Carolina as a whole. (1988 statistics - Inadequate care: O.C. - 20.5; N.C. - 28.7; No care: O.C. - 1.4; N.C. - 1.6). However, nonwhite women in Orange County are moxe. likely to receive no p- renatal care than are nonwhite women in the state as a whole. Additionally, over 40% of nonwhite women in Orange County do not receive adequate prenatal care. This is a very.serious problem and could be expected - -to have a significant impact on pregnancy outcome and maternal health among nonwhite women. This. identifies nonwhite women- as a Population at risk. 11