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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Anisha Moore Johnson, MPHc, TeenAge Program, Workplace, 100 38th Street Suite 1504B, Richmond, CA 94805, (510) 231-8669, anisha@sfsu.edu, Jessica Waggett, MPHc, Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, SFSU, HSS 326, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132-4161, Naomi Akers, MPHc, St. James Infirmary, 1372 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, Pedro A. Arista, MPHc, University of California San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry, 3333 California Street, Suite 465, San Francisco, CA 94143-0848, and Shireen Malekafzali, MPHc, Program on Health, Equity and Sustainability, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 1390 Market Street, Suite 910, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Graduate students at San Francisco State University, Masters in Public Health conducted a community health assessment in collaboration with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. The assessment team conducted thirty face-to-face interviews comprised of qualitative and quantitative questions with women who were pregnant while in custody at Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW) in California. The purpose of this assessment was to assess pregnant prisoners' perceptions and experiences of oral healthcare services. Oral healthcare is an important factor in a healthy pregnancy. Current research has linked poor oral health of the mother with pre-term delivery (PTD) and low birth weight of the baby. The extent of the problem is heightened considering PTD accounts for more than 60% of all neonatal mortality. While all pregnant women are vulnerable to these risks, incarcerated pregnant women face a particular vulnerability due to the lack of preventative and restorative oral healthcare in prison. Several key findings derived from the interviews: 1) 100% of the women interviewed did not understand the connection between oral health and a healthy pregnancy. 2) 100% of the women interviewed did not receive health education materials on the risks of poor oral healthcare 3) While pregnant at VSPW most women reported little or no access to preventative or restorative oral healthcare. Only 1% of the total sample reported receiving a dental cleaning. The findings show the importance of improving oral healthcare among pregnant prisoners. The inadequate oral healthcare services impacts the lives of all pregnant prisoners and their children.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to
• Discuss the link between poor oral health and birth outcomes
• Describe poor oral healthcare among pregnant incarcerated women as it relates to Maternal and Child Health
• List at least three barriers women prisoners at VSPW are confronted with when accessing oral healthcare

Keywords: Maternal and Child Health, Incarceration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation