Nursing Practice Strategies for Prenatal Care of Homeless Pregnant Women

Women who are homeless are less likely to receive preconception care or prenatal care in the first trimester, and they tend to have fewer prenatal visits overall than their housed counterparts. Homelessness during pregnancy can increase the risk for many maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. Barriers to proper prenatal care can be categorized as logistical, psychosocial, intellectual, and attitudinal. Although all women face potential barriers to optimal care, women who are homeless are particularly vulnerable and experience these barriers to a greater degree. Nursing strategies for prenatal care of homeless pregnant women include therapeutic communication, focused assessment, and upstream interdisciplinary approaches.