Health care of pregnant women in state correctional facilities: National survey

The number of pregnant women in prison constitutes about 6.4% of the female prison population in the United States. This population is at high risk for poor maternal and infant health outcomes. Although recommendations addressing the health care of pregnant inmates have been developed by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) and the American Public Health Association ( APHA), little research has been conducted to examine current health care practices in women's state correctional facilities. Therefore a survey was developed by a physician who provides health care in a state women's correctional facility and a clinical nurse specialist who facilitates an educational support group for pregnant women in the same facility. The survey addresses the health care of pregnant women including: screening for pregnancy and abuse; provider of prenatal care; nutritional, work, sleep and clothing accommodations; education related to pregnancy, delivery and postpartum; support groups; family planning and birth control; type of restraints used during transport, during labor, delivery, in the recovery period; discharge planning; challenges and barriers providing health care to this population. Following telephone contact with the Wardens' offices, the survey was distributed by survey monkey, email or regular mail based on the request of the Warden or the individual assigned to complete it. At the current time the response rate for completed surveys is 38% and additional surveys are expected in the next few months based on the telephone conversations with the staff of a number of facilities.