The relationship between physicians' qualifications and experience and the adequacy of prenatal care and low birthweight.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physicians' qualifications and experience and rates of completion of the recommended number of prenatal visits and delivery of a low-birthweight infant.

METHODS

All deliveries performed by a permanently licensed physician in Massachusetts in 1990 (n = 80,537) were examined. Qualification was measured by board certification. Experience was measured by both volume of deliveries and duration of practice.

RESULTS

Women cared for by a non-board-certified physician were less likely to receive the recommended number of prenatal visits (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.54, 0.85) and were more likely to have a low-birthweight infant (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.42). Physicians with a smaller volume of deliveries or a shorter duration of practice were more likely to deliver a low-birthweight infant.

CONCLUSIONS

The data show an association of board certification with rates of the recommended number of prenatal visits and low birthweight. In addition, volume and duration of practice were significantly associated with low birthweight. Further research should examine whether these associations are related to differences in patient referral or to physicians' judgement and efficiency in provision of prenatal care.