September 10, 2025Reproductive HealthOpen Access

Changes in the utilization of prenatal and delivery services in the United States prior to, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic

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Analysis of prenatal care and delivery shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting significant changes in access and service provision.

Significantly lower levels of average prenatal care visits were observed across all COVID-19 months, with notable declines.
A temporary drop in total births occurred during 2020, recovering to expected levels in 2021, though self-pay births increased in 2023.
Total non-hospital births, particularly home births, exceeded expected numbers throughout the pandemic, indicating shifts in care preferences.
Sustained changes to maternity care provision highlight vulnerabilities in access and equitable care during healthcare disruptions.

Silverstein et al. (2025) studied this question.

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Analysis of prenatal care and delivery shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting significant changes in access and service provision.