Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
Utah Value:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported receiving a postpartum checkup
Appears In:
Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported receiving a postpartum checkup
US Value: 90.9%
Top State(s): Connecticut: 94.9%
Bottom State(s): Arkansas: 87.1%
Definition: Percentage of women with a recent live birth who reported receiving a postpartum checkup
Data Source and Years(s): CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System or state equivalent, 2021
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System or state equivalent, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024.
The days and weeks after childbirth are a critical time for the care of both mothers and newborns. New mothers experience many physical, social and psychological changes during this period. It is important that women who recently gave birth receive postpartum checkups.
At a postpartum visit, health care providers and patients may discuss:
Women who lack stable housing, continuous health coverage and social or financial support are less likely to attend postpartum follow-up care. These individuals are missing opportunities for screening and treatment of postpartum concerns, contraception counseling and overall guidance and support needed after childbirth.
Postpartum visits are more common among:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests an initial assessment within the first three weeks of birth, followed by individualized, ongoing care, and concluding with a comprehensive well-woman visit no later than 12 weeks after birth. Multiple visits may be recommended for women with complex medical problems.
Strategies to increase postpartum visits include:
Providing postpartum depression screening guidelines to health care providers and connecting women with community resources can further improve postpartum care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Maternal & Child Health Initiative provides states with resources to improve the rate and content of postpartum visits among Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) populations.
Medicaid pays for almost half of all births in the United States and must cover women for the first 60 days postpartum. Many states have expanded coverage beyond the first 60 days, but some have not. Expanding Medicaid coverage during the postpartum period would allow for the most vulnerable women to receive the recommended ACOG postpartum care. Encouraging states to expand Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months postpartum is also a goal within the White House’s blueprint to address the maternal health crisis in the U.S.
Healthy People 2030 has multiple pregnancy and childbirth objectives, including:
Ranji, Usha, Ivette Gomez, and Alina Salganicoff. 2021. “Expanding Postpartum Medicaid Coverage.” Issue Brief. KFF. https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/expanding-postpartum-medicaid-coverage/.
Stuebe, Alison, Tamika Auguste, and Martha Gulati. 2018. “ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736: Optimizing Postpartum Care.” Obstetrics & Gynecology 131 (5): e140–50. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002633.
Stumbras, Katrina, Kristin Rankin, Rachel Caskey, Sadia Haider, and Arden Handler. 2016. “Guidelines and Interventions Related to the Postpartum Visit for Low-Risk Postpartum Women in High and Upper Middle Income Countries.” Maternal and Child Health Journal 20 (Suppl 1): 103–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2053-6.
Wilcox, Annemieke, Erika E. Levi, and Joanne M. Garrett. 2016. “Predictors of Non-Attendance to the Postpartum Follow-up Visit.” Maternal and Child Health Journal 20 (Suppl 1): 22–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-016-2184-9.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.