This study examines perinatal outcomes in rural areas across the United States in 2005. Low birth weight, a key indicator of the health of the U.S. population, and adequacy of prenatal care, a critical indicator of access and quality of health care, are explored to discover how they are related to rural or urban location, race, and ethnicity.

Publications

• Inadequate Prenatal Care Among Racial and Ethnic Groups in the Rural United States, 2005
  WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2013
  This brief reports that in most states, rural minority racial/ethnic groups had levels of inadequate prenatal care (less than 50% of expected visits) in the "worst" or "worse than mid-range" categories.
• Inadequate Prenatal Care in the Rural United States, 2005
  WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2013
  This policy brief finds that the states with levels of rural inadequate prenatal care (less than 50% of expected visits) in the "worst" or "worse than mid-range" categories were largely in southern and southwestern areas of the United States.
• Low Birth Weight Rates Among Racial and Ethnic Groups in the Rural United States, 2005
  WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2013
  Reports that non-hispanic blacks generally had the highest rural low birth weight rates of all races/ethnicities, regardless of geographic location.
• Low Birth Weight Rates in the Rural United States, 2005
  WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
  Date: 10/2013
  This brief shares that the rural U.S. low birth weight rate in 2005 was significantly higher than the urban U.S. low birth weight rate.