Nearly One in Three Mothers Who Gave Birth in 2025 Had No Prenatal Check-Ups

Nearly three in ten births recorded in Romania in 2025 occurred without the mother having received any prenatal care. The situation is even more concerning among adolescents: more than 43% of mothers under the age of 15 did not attend any specialist medical check-up during pregnancy.

The figures were presented by Save the Children Romania, based on data from the National Institute of Statistics, and highlight persistent inequalities in access to maternal and child healthcare services.

28.35% of births occurred without prenatal monitoring

In 2025, 28.35% of births in Romania occurred without the mother having received prenatal care, according to National Institute of Statistics data cited by Save the Children Romania in a press release received by Medic24 on August 31, 2026.

Vulnerability is even greater among very young mothers. Among girls under the age of 15, the proportion of births without prenatal care exceeds 43%, while among mothers aged 15–19 it is above 32%.

The “State of the Child in Romania” report, published by Save the Children in June 2026, indicates that 43.3% of births to mothers under 15 occurred without prenatal care, compared with a national average of 28.35%.

The same report shows that very young maternal age is also associated with a higher frequency of low birth weight: this was recorded in 15.9% of births to mothers under the age of 15, compared with 8.04% nationwide.

Significant differences between rural and urban areas

Inequalities in access to healthcare services are also reflected in infant mortality. According to provisional National Institute of Statistics data for 2025 cited in the press release, the infant mortality rate stood at 6 deaths per 1,000 live births nationwide.

In urban areas, the rate was 5.1 per 1,000 live births, while in rural areas it reached 6.8 per 1,000.

Medical vulnerability often overlaps with social vulnerability. In 2025, 31.7% of children under the age of 6 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, while among the rural population the risk of poverty or social exclusion reached 39.8%, according to the data cited by the organization.

Why pregnancy monitoring is important

Prenatal care can help identify early problems that may affect the health of the mother or the development of the fetus and provides an opportunity for intervention before complications occur.

The World Health Organization considers regular contact between pregnant women and skilled healthcare professionals an essential component of maternal care and recommends at least eight contacts with a healthcare professional during an uncomplicated pregnancy.

The first contact is recommended during the first trimester. Prenatal monitoring provides opportunities to assess maternal and fetal health, detect and manage complications, and provide preventive interventions and counselling.

10,000 mothers and newborns from vulnerable communities to receive support

The data were presented alongside the launch of the fourth edition of the “Baby Box” programme, implemented by Save the Children Romania and the SAMAS Association and funded by the OMV Petrom Foundation.

In this edition, the programme will reach 10,000 mothers and newborns from 1,135 vulnerable communities in 24 counties. A total of 992 community nurses and family doctors are involved, helping connect families with the healthcare services they need.

The programme combines material support with information and counselling. Each box contains 65 products for the mother and newborn, while distribution is accompanied by discussions with specialists about infant care, breastfeeding, nutrition, safety, maternal health and access to healthcare services.

The fourth edition has funding of €5 million. By the end of this edition, the total number of mothers and newborns supported across all four editions of the programme is expected to reach 35,900.