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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Pedro A. Arista, MPHc, University of California San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry, 3333 California Street, Suite 465, San Francisco, CA 94143-0848, (415) 271-2391, pedro@sfsu.edu, Shireen Malekafzali, MPHc, Program on Health, Equity and Sustainability, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 1390 Market Street, Suite 910, San Francisco, CA 94102, Anisha Moore Johnson, MPHc, Contra County Public Health Department, TeenAge Program, 100 38th Street Suite 1504 B, Richmond, CA 94804, Jessica Waggett, MPHc, Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, SFSU, HSS 326, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132-4161, and Naomi Akers, MPHc, St. James Infirmary, 1372 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.

Oral health of pregnant women is directly linked to their health and the health of their unborn children. Despite the increasing numbers of incarcerated women, few services exist to address needs and experiences of pregnant prisoners. Pregnant prisoners also encounter injustices when accessing oral healthcare services. In collaboration with a community based advocacy organization, San Francisco State University, Master in Public Health students conducted a community health assessment of women who were pregnant while in custody at Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW) in California. Purpose: To assess pregnant prisoners' perceptions and experiences of oral healthcare services. Methodology: Thirty face-to-face participant interviews were conducted with eligible women. Interviews were primarily quantitative with qualitative supporting questions. Findings: Significant findings from the data collected include: (1) All the women did not know about the connection of oral health and birth outcomes, (2) Most women reported that prior to entering VSPW they had positive experiences going to the dentist, and rated their own oral health as good or excellent, (3) While at VSPW most women reported little or no access to preventative oral healthcare, negative experiences in the emergency treatments received, and rated their own oral health much lower. Discussion: The findings of this assessment provide a foundation for discussion surrounding improvements of oral healthcare services for pregnant prisoners. The experiences of these women also provide us with an understanding of the many injustices they are confronted with when accessing oral healthcare services in prison.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to

• Discuss and recognize the link between oral health and birth outcomes.;
• List at least three barriers women prisoners at VSPW are confronted with when accessing oral health.;
• Discuss at least three injustices women prisoners are confronted with when given a low oral rating by VSPW medical staff.; and
• List at least two policies or strategies to improve oral health services at women’s prisons.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation