Duration of incarceration and perinatal outcome

The number of incarcerated women is increasing, thus pregnancy in prison is no longer uncommon. We reviewed the perinatal outcome of 53 women with short-term incarceration (fewer than 90 days) and of 53 women who experienced long-term incarceration (more than 120 days). Poor prenatal care, history of drug abuse, hepatitis, and poor nutrition were more common among the short-incarceration group. Of infants born to short-incarceration women, 32 (60%) were normal, four (7%) stillborn, eight (15%) premature, six (11%) small for gestational age, and four (7%) septic. Women in the long-incarceration group delivered 48 normal infants (91%), whereas two were offspring of diabetic mothers and three were premature. Birth weight for infants born to smokers in the short-incarceration group was significantly lower than that of infants born to smokers in the long-incarceration group. Women who suffer short incarcerations experience high perinatal mortality and morbidity. In contrast, those incarcerated longer appear to benefit from better prenatal care, improved nutrition, and a structured environment, and thus a more favorable perinatal outcome.