National Study Finds About One-Third of Eligible FQHCs Lack Onsite Prenatal Care
An observational study published July 14 in Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed 1,326 FQHCs operating in 2024 after excluding U.S. territories and centers serving fewer than 100 adult female patients. About two-thirds provided onsite prenatal care and about one-third did not.
Onsite care was more common among urban centers and centers serving higher proportions of Black, Hispanic, Medicaid, and limited-English-proficiency patients. The researchers also found that maternity-care deserts often had no FQHC or had an FQHC without onsite prenatal services.
Key takeaways
- The 1,326-center sample excluded U.S. territories and centers serving fewer than 100 adult female patients; roughly one-third lacked onsite prenatal care.
- Because the study was observational, its findings describe associations and access gaps rather than proving that center characteristics caused onsite service availability.
Primary source
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FQHC Talent. (2026, July 14). National Study Finds About One-Third of Eligible FQHCs Lack Onsite Prenatal Care. Primary source: Annals of Internal Medicine. Retrieved July 20, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/fqhc-onsite-prenatal-care-gap-annals-study-july-2026
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