Ventura Is Top County in State for Prenatal Care

This county is more successful at providing prenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy than any of the state’s 57 other counties, according to a new state report.

According to the report by the California Department of Health Services, 88.4% of all Ventura County women got care during the first three months of their pregnancies in 1998, the last year tracked. That was enough to move the county from the third spot.

In comparison, Los Angeles County--at number 17--had a rate of 83.6% and Orange County, at number 9, a rate of 83.5%.

Health officials in Ventura County attributed their success to a network of clinics--both public and private--across the county. The clinics ease the way for the poor and for women who may lack transportation, education or baby sitters to find early help.

“A lot of our patients walk here. We just try to make it easy and seamless to be seen at clinics,” said Dr. Robert Lefkowitz, director of obstetrics for the county. “It’s word of mouth.”