Assessing the Public Health Implications of Prenatal and Postnatal Care Reception on Women's Health Outcomes in United States

Prenatal and postpartum care are important for improving maternal and infant health. This study explored how differences in care affect pregnancy complications and postpartum recovery in different population groups in U.S. In this study, we processed the data to handle missing and outlier values and conducted a descriptive statistical analysis to identify trends in care reception. The study utilized multivariate logistic regression models to assess the health outcomes associated with the quality and frequency of received care, controlling for factors such as age, race, education, and income. And we implemented propensity score matching to mitigate selection bias and isolate the effects of prenatal and postnatal care. The findings reveal that regular prenatal care significantly reduces the incidence of gestational hypertension and preterm births. Similarly, adequate postnatal care is linked to quicker physical recovery and lower risks of postpartum depression. The study underscores the necessity of enhancing care accessibility and quality, particularly for underserved populations, and advocates for tailored public health interventions to improve maternal health outcomes.