Date of Conferral

4-28-2026

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Health Sciences

Advisor

Heba Athar

Abstract

Maternal health disparities affecting Black women in the United States remain a persistent public health concern due to inequities in prenatal care access and adverse birth outcomes. Prior research has shown that socioeconomic conditions, insurance coverage, and systemic barriers influence prenatal care utilization and maternal outcomes; however, limited research has examined how Medicaid coverage, household income, preterm birth, and birth weight are collectively associated with prenatal care access among Black women in Cook County, Illinois. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationships among these factors and access to prenatal care among Black women ages 15–44 in Cook County, Illinois. Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) socioecological model guided the examination of individual, community, and systemic influences on prenatal care utilization. Using a quantitative correlational design, secondary data were obtained from a sample of 90 Black women ages 15–44 in Cook County, Illinois, drawn from the National Center for Health Statistics' maternal and child health dataset, and analyzed using multiple logistic regression in SPSS Version 28. Results indicated statistically significant relationships between Medicaid coverage, household income, and access to prenatal care, suggesting that socioeconomic and structural determinants contribute to disparities in prenatal care utilization. These findings may support positive social change by informing public health policy, strengthening maternal health programs, and guiding targeted interventions to improve prenatal care access and reduce disparities.

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