Enhancing perinatal outcome in homeless women: the challenge of providing comprehensive health care.

Homeless women who are pregnant present a number of challenge to health care providers. As a group, they are at risk for a variety of illnesses that could affect their pregnancies, including sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse. Poor access to health care, inadequate prenatal care, poor nutrition, and poor housing cause these women to suffer poor birth outcomes. They are more likely to deliver low birth weight infants and have higher rates of infant mortality. It should be understood that homeless pregnant women are a heterogenous group. Generally, they are pregnant adolescents and women in homeless families. Additionally, there are differences within these two groups. The causes of homelessness for these women vary as do their needs during pregnancy. Any provider of health care to the homeless must understand the different situations of these women to deliver directed, effective care.