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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Shireen Malekafzali, MPHc, Program on Health, Equity and Sustainability, San Francisco Department of Public Health, 1390 Market Street, Suite 910, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415.252.3935, shireen.malekafzali@sfdph.org, Anisha Moore Johnson, MPHc, TeenAge Program, Workplace, 100 38th Street Suite 1504B, Richmond, CA 94805, 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, and Pedro A. Arista, MPHc, University of California San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry, 3333 California Street, Suite 465, San Francisco, CA 94143-0848.

In 1976 the Supreme Court ruled that adequate medical and oral healthcare for prisoners is a constitutional right protected under the Eighth Amendment. Nearly 30 years later, a U.S. District Judge ruled that the California prison healthcare system was “an outright depravity” and in violation of prisoners' human rights.

Background: The current mode of all prison operations is modeled on a system based on the incarceration of men and does not reflect the unique needs of women prisoners, particularly pregnant prisoners. Additionally, in recent years, researchers have found links between the oral health of pregnant women, and low birth-weight of their babies. This is vital since low birth-weight is the number one reason for neo-natal mortality.

We conducted an assessment of the oral healthcare of women who were pregnant at Valley State Prison for Women (VSPW) in California. Purpose: To understand pregnant prisoners' experiences with oral healthcare services received in prison. Methodology: Thirty face-to-face interviews with women who were pregnant at VSPW using a quantitative tool with qualitative supporting questions. Findings: While at VSPW, women's oral health significantly lowered; women had little or no access to preventative oral healthcare, and had negative experiences with emergency treatments received; pregnant prisoners received tooth extractions, instead of treatment, in order to pass dental clearance to access the Community Prisoner Mother Program and remain with their babies. Discussion: Pregnant prisoners are not receiving appropriate oral healthcare reflective of the specific needs of pregnant women, jeopardizing their health and the health of their unborn babies.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize oral healthcare as part of prisoner’s human rights.
• Identify the connections between oral health of pregnant women and poor birth outcomes.
• Examine the oral healthcare policies in California prisons.
• Analyze the effects of poor oral healthcare services for a vulnerable population.
• Articulate the need for de-linking the dental clearance currently required to access the Community Prisoner Mother Program.

Keywords: Prisoners Health Care, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation