Reproductive justice for incarcerated mothers and advocacy for their infants and young children

Shlafer, Rebecca J.; Hardeman, Rachel R.; Carlson, Elizabeth A.

doi:10.1002/imhj.21810

Cited by 33 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Reproductive justice is, however, more than access to healthcare–it is the “splicing together the equation of reproductive rights plus social justice” (page 65) [ 18 ]. While previous publications have suggested policies and healthcare practices which might improve reproductive healthcare [ 38 , 39 ], our findings support the fact that reproductive justice in the prison setting will only be fully achieved when discrimination, hierarchies of power, and stigma against women in prison are addressed as barriers to health. Our results also raise the question, as posed by other reproductive justice scholars [ 40 ], as to whether reproductive justice can in fact be achieved in prison since these data suggest that women’s desires to have better quality and access to reproductive healthcare, and healthcare overall, has largely been negatively impacted by the conditions of their arrest and incarceration.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Reproductive healthcare in prison: A qualitative study of women’s experiences and perspectives in Ontario, Canada

et al. 2021

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Objective To explore women’s experiences and perspectives of reproductive healthcare in prison. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured focus groups in 2018 with women in a provincial prison in Ontario, Canada. We asked participants about their experiences and perspectives of pregnancy and contraception related to healthcare in prison. We used a combination of deductive and inductive content analysis to categorize data. A concept map was generated using a reproductive justice framework. Results The data reflected three components of a reproductive justice framework: 1) women have limited access to healthcare in prison, 2) reproductive safety and dignity influence attitudes toward pregnancy and contraception, and 3) women in prison want better reproductive healthcare. Discrimination and stigma were commonly invoked throughout women’s experiences in seeking reproductive healthcare. Conclusions Improving reproductive healthcare for women in prison is crucial to promoting reproductive justice in this population. Efforts to increase access to comprehensive, responsive, and timely reproductive healthcare should be informed by the needs and desires of women in prison and should actively seek to reduce their experience of discrimination and stigma in this context.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 77%

Reproductive healthcare in prison: A qualitative study of women’s experiences and perspectives in Ontario, Canada

et al. 2021

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“…Yet, past research with women who have given birth while incarcerated suggests that women do not share the same positive perceptions, reporting that the prenatal care they received was of low quality, being restrained was dehumanizing, and separation from their infants after birth was a traumatic experience (Fritz and Whiteacre 2016;Schroeder and Bell 2005a, b;Williams and Schulte-day 2006;Wismont 2000). Additionally, research with prison administrators and national reviews of prison policies suggests that the majority of prisons are not meeting the prenatal and postnatal needs of pregnant women (Kelsey et al 2017;Ferszt and Clarke 2012;Shlafer et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corrections officers’ knowledge and perspectives of maternal and child health policies and programs for pregnant women in prison

2020

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Background: In response to the dramatic increase in the number of women incarcerated in the United Statesand a growing awareness that a small proportion of women enter prison pregnant and have unique health needs-some prisons have implemented policies and programs to support pregnant women (defined here as maternal and child health [MCH] policies and programs). Corrections officers (COs) are key stakeholders in the successful implementation of prison policies and programs. Yet, little empirical research has examined prison COs' knowledge and perspectives of MCH policies and programs, particularly the impact such policies and programs have on COs' primary job responsibility of maintaining safety and security. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to understand COs' knowledge and perspectives of MCH policies and programs in one state prison, with a specific emphasis on the prison's pregnancy and birth support (doula) program. Results: Thirty-eight COs at a single large, Midwestern women's prison completed an online survey, and eight of these COs participated in an individual, in-person qualitative interview. Results indicated that COs' perspectives on MCH policies and programs were generally positive. Most COs strongly approved of the prison's doula program and the practice of not restraining pregnant women. COs reported that MCH policies and programs did not interfere, and in some cases helped, with their primary job task of maintaining safety and security. Conclusions: Findings support expansion of MCH programs and policies in prisons, while underscoring the need to offer more CO training and to gather more CO input during program development and implementation. MCH services that provide support to pregnant women that are outside the scope of COs' roles may help reduce CO job demands, improve facility safety, and promote maternal and child health.

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“…An estimated 3% to 5% of women are pregnant during their incarceration 11–13 . Pregnant and postpartum women in prison have unique health needs and may be more likely to experience mental health difficulties compared with the general prison population, because of heightened risks experienced both prior to and during incarceration 14–16 . Compared with women in the community, women who are pregnant in prison have higher rates of substance use, chronic health conditions, and violence exposure and are more likely to have limited access to reproductive care, adequate nutrition, and social support 17–20 .…”

Section: Depressive Symptoms Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women In Prisonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Depressive Symptoms among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Prison

Howland

Kotlar

Davis

et al. 2021

J Midwife Womens Health

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Introduction Women in prison experience high rates of mental and physical health problems, and pregnant and postpartum women in prison may be particularly vulnerable. Very few studies have examined depressive symptoms among women who are pregnant and give birth in prison. We assessed depressive symptoms longitudinally from pregnancy into the postpartum period in a sample of 58 women who gave birth in prison. We also considered whether incarceration‐related factors (length of time incarcerated while pregnant, remaining length of sentence to serve after birth) were associated with depressive symptoms. Methods Data were collected as part of an ongoing evaluation of a prison‐based pregnancy and parenting support program at one women's state prison. At prenatal and postpartum visits with their doula, women completed the Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9), a measure of depressive symptom severity. Results More than one‐third of our sample of women who were incarcerated and gave birth in custody met criteria for moderate to severe depression on the PHQ‐9 during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Women who faced longer periods of incarceration following birth and separation from their newborns reported higher levels of postpartum depressive symptoms. Discussion Findings have implications for practice and policy aimed at supporting the mental health needs of women who are pregnant in prison, particularly those women who give birth in custody and are separated from their newborns.

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Reproductive justice for incarcerated mothers and advocacy for their infants and young children

Cited by 33 publications

References 54 publications

Reproductive healthcare in prison: A qualitative study of women’s experiences and perspectives in Ontario, Canada

Reproductive healthcare in prison: A qualitative study of women’s experiences and perspectives in Ontario, Canada

Corrections officers’ knowledge and perspectives of maternal and child health policies and programs for pregnant women in prison

Depressive Symptoms among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Prison

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