MMWR. Surveillance summaries : Morbidity and mortality weekly report. Surveillance summaries
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Certain maternal behaviors and experiences (e.g., unintended pregnancy, late entry into prenatal care, smoking cigarettes during pregnancy, and physical abuse during pregnancy) might be related to adverse reproductive outcomes (e.g., low birthweight, infant morbidity and mortality, and maternal morbidity). Information on the prevalence of these behaviors and experiences is needed to monitor trends over time, to increase understanding of maternal behaviors and experiences and their relation to perinatal and maternal outcomes, and to develop and assess programs and policies designed to reduce these adverse outcomes among pregnant women and their infants. ⋯ These findings are useful for state agencies to monitor trends in behaviors and experiences and to design public health programs and policies that addre