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Is incarceration during pregnancy associated with infant birthweight?
S L Martin1, H Kim, L L Kupper
1Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7400, USA.
American Journal of Public Health
|October 7, 1997
Summary
Incarceration during pregnancy did not affect infant birthweight. However, incarceration at other times was linked to worse birth outcomes, suggesting prison environments may benefit high-risk pregnant women.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal health
- Reproductive health
- Public health
Background:
- Maternal incarceration is a growing concern in public health.
- Limited research exists on the specific impact of incarceration timing on infant birthweight.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between incarceration during pregnancy and infant birthweight.
- To compare birth outcomes across women incarcerated during pregnancy, at other times, and never incarcerated.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multivariable analyses to compare infant birthweight.
- Included three groups: pregnant incarcerated women, non-pregnant incarcerated women, and never incarcerated women.
Main Results:
- Infant birthweights were not significantly different for women incarcerated during pregnancy compared to never incarcerated women.
- Infant birthweights were significantly lower for women incarcerated at times other than during pregnancy compared to both never incarcerated and pregnant incarcerated women.
Conclusions:
- The prison environment, including shelter and nutrition, may offer protective health benefits for high-risk pregnant individuals.
- Incarceration timing is a critical factor influencing adverse birth outcomes.