Pregnancy Outcomes in US Prisons, 2016-2017.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Reproductive Health
• Criminology

Background:

• Limited national data exists on pregnancy frequencies and outcomes for incarcerated women in the US.
• Understanding these statistics is vital for improving maternal and infant health within correctional facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To collect national data on pregnancy frequencies and outcomes among women in US state and federal prisons.
• To identify trends and variations in pregnancy outcomes among incarcerated populations.

Main Methods:

• Prospective data collection over 12 months (2016-2017) from 22 state prison systems and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
• Inclusion of data on pregnant women admitted, pregnancy prevalence, and pregnancy outcomes (births, miscarriages, abortions, stillbirths, newborn deaths).

Main Results:

• 1396 pregnant women were admitted; 3.8% of newly admitted women were pregnant.
• The majority of outcomes were live births (92%), followed by miscarriages (6%).
• Six percent of live births were preterm, and 30% were cesarean deliveries, with state-level variations observed.

Conclusions:

• The majority of prison pregnancies conclude with live births or miscarriages.
• Findings support policymakers, researchers, and public health practitioners in optimizing care for incarcerated pregnant women and their newborns.
• Addressing the health of this population has significant sociopolitical implications.