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Hawkins SS. Reproductive health care for incarcerated women in the prenatal and postpartum periods. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2024:S0884-2175(24)00047-9. [PMID: 38588824 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2024.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In 1976, the Supreme Court mandated that incarcerated individuals have a constitutional right to receive medical care; however, there are no mandatory standards so access to and quality of reproductive health care for incarcerated pregnant women varies widely across facilities. Without federal or state standards, there is variability in the type of prenatal care pregnant women receive, their birthing experience, how long they are able to stay with their infant after birth, and whether they are permitted to breastfeed or express milk. In this column, I review policies related to reproductive health care in carceral settings, the gaps in data collection and research, programs to support the needs of incarcerated pregnant women, and recommendations from professional organizations on reproductive health care for incarcerated women in the prenatal and postpartum periods.
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Habersham L, George J, Townsel CD. Substance Use in Pregnancy and Its Impact on Communities of Color. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2024; 51:193-210. [PMID: 38267128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Stigma toward pregnant and postpartum people who use drugs is common and seeks to define addiction as a moral weakness rather than a chronic medical illness that requires resources and treatment. More concerning is the additive impact of substance use and racial discrimination, whose intersections present particularly challenging circumstances. In this article, the authors review the history of substance use in the United States and focus on 3 substances of abuse that illustrate the inequity faced by pregnant person of color who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Habersham
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, 22 South Greene Street, Suite P6H310, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Joshua George
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Courtney D Townsel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore, 250 West Pratt Street, Suite 880, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Farhoudi B, Shahmohamadi E, SeyedAlinaghi S, Rostam Afshar Z, Mirzapour P, Nadji S, Golsoorat Pahlaviani F, Tashakorian M, Hackett D. Sexual and reproductive history of female prisoners in Iran: a health care needs analysis. Int J Prison Health 2023; 19:591-598. [PMID: 37143342 DOI: 10.1108/ijph-12-2022-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE According to estimates, there are approximately 714,000 female prisoners in the world. A considerable proportion are pregnant, of childbearing age at the time of incarceration and may experience numerous reproductive health concerns. The purpose of this study is to examine the demographics and sexual and reproductive history of female prisoners in Iran. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH Four hundred and thirty-four female prisoners (mean age: 39.0 ± 9.9) serving sentences at Qarchak prison, Iran, completed a questionnaire. The participants were recruited between October 2017 and September 2018 using a convenient sampling method. The questionnaire captured sociodemographic characteristics and sexual and reproductive history. FINDINGS Most respondents had 7-12 years of formal education, were housewives (69.9%), were either married (41.6%) or divorced (41.8%) and were literate (91.3%). History of drug use among the respondents was 34.7%. Most respondents had regular menstruation (63.5%) and were pre-menopausal (86.1%). Natural birth control was preferred (39.7%) compared to other methods, such as condoms (18%) and oral contraceptive pills (8.4%). Spontaneous and induced abortions were reported by 17.8% and 16.4% of respondents, respectively. There was 5.9% of respondents that reported having a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) before incarceration, with HPV the most common (12.7%). RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS This study has limitations, including the problem of following up with prisoners to shorten the average length of their imprisonment, which can leave many issues in the field of women's health and their follow-up incomplete. Prison health care workers should also follow up on women's health and pregnancy hygiene after their release because there is usually a high prevalence of STIs in prisoners. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS The findings highlight the importance of improving the quality of women's health care and pregnancy-related care in prisons. Additionally, the importance of having a health protocol for incarcerated women in Iran. Other programs should also be implemented for women prisoners to eliminate the discrimination they may face in prison. ORIGINALITY/VALUE The international community has attempted to develop care guidelines for pregnant prisoners, particularly for prenatal and mental health services. However, currently in Iran no such guidelines have been developed. To date no research has explored the sexual health among female prisoners of this country. The aim of the present study was to examine the demographics and sexual and reproductive history of female prisoners in Iran. A secondary aim was to identify the health care needs of female prisoners in Iran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Farhoudi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Amiralmomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elnaz Shahmohamadi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Rostam Afshar
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Pegah Mirzapour
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - SeyedAlireza Nadji
- Virology Research Center, National Institutes of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Golsoorat Pahlaviani
- Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrzad Tashakorian
- Health and Treatment Directorate of Prisons and Security and Corrective Measures Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Daniel Hackett
- Physical Activity, Lifestyle, Ageing and Wellbeing Faculty Research Group, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Testa A, Lee J, Semenza DC, Jackson DB, Ganson KT, Nagata JM. Intimate partner violence and barriers to prenatal care. Soc Sci Med 2023; 320:115700. [PMID: 36708607 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Past research has shown that intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with less adequate access to prenatal care. However, less is known about why IPV creates challenges for accessing prenatal care, including how IPV is related to unique barriers to prenatal care. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to examine the association between physical IPV around the time of pregnancy (preconception IPV, prenatal IPV, or both preconception and prenatal IPV) and (1) adequacy of prenatal care, and (2) barriers to prenatal care. METHODS Data are from 35 sites (34 states and New York City) from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) for years 2009-2016 (n = 166,840). Adequacy of prenatal care is examined using multinomial logistic regression and measures of barriers to prenatal care are assessed using negative binomial regression and logistic regression. RESULTS The findings reveal that women with IPV exposure-especially those who experience IPV both before and during pregnancy-are more likely to experience inadequate prenatal care. In addition, women with IPV exposure incur a higher rate of barriers to prenatal care, as well as several specific barriers to prenatal care including not having transportation, not being able to get time off work, being too busy, being unable to find child care, and keeping a pregnancy a secret. CONCLUSIONS Considering the adverse consequences of both IPV and inadequate access to prenatal care for maternal and child health, the findings of this study highlight the need for public health interventions that both reduce the prevalence of IPV and remove barriers to prenatal care for IPV-exposed women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Testa
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, United States.
| | - Jacqueline Lee
- Department of Criminal Justice, Boise State University, United States
| | - Daniel C Semenza
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Criminal Justice, Rutgers University, Camden, United States
| | - Dylan B Jackson
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States
| | - Kyle T Ganson
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Canada
| | - Jason M Nagata
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, United States
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Lee RD, D’Angelo DV, Dieke A, Burley K. Recent Incarceration Exposure Among Parents of Live-Born Infants and Maternal and Child Health. Public Health Rep 2023; 138:292-301. [PMID: 35301904 PMCID: PMC10031842 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221081808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Women who have direct exposure to incarceration or indirect exposure through their partner are at high risk for poor health behaviors and outcomes, which may have lasting impacts on their children. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of recent incarceration exposure among women with a recent live birth and assess the relationship between incarceration exposure and maternal and child health. METHODS We used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (36 states and New York City, 2012-2015; N = 146 329) to estimate the prevalence of women reporting that they or their husband/partner spent time in jail during the 12 months before giving birth. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess associations between incarceration exposure and maternal and infant health conditions. RESULTS The prevalence of incarceration exposure shortly before or during pregnancy was 3.7% (95% CI, 3.6%-3.9%). Women with incarceration exposure had increased odds of prepregnancy hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26-1.81), prepregnancy and postpartum depressive symptoms (aOR = 1.95 [95% CI, 1.73-2.19] and 1.49 [95% CI, 1.32-1.67], respectively), and having an infant admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (aOR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.33). CONCLUSION Because a parent's incarceration exposure is an adverse childhood experience with the potential to disrupt important developmental periods and have negative impacts on the socioemotional and health outcomes of children, it is critical for researchers and health care providers to better understand its impact on maternal and infant health. Prenatal and postnatal care may provide opportunities to address incarceration-related health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalyn D. Lee
- Division of Violence Prevention,
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Denise V. D’Angelo
- Division of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ada Dieke
- Division of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kim Burley
- Division of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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County-level jail incarceration, community economic distress, rurality, and preterm birth among women in the US South. J Clin Transl Sci 2023; 7:e43. [PMID: 36845312 PMCID: PMC9947609 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2022.468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The USA has higher rates of preterm birth and incarceration than any other developed nation, with rates of both being highest in Southern states and among Black Americans, potentially due to rurality and socioeconomic factors. To test our hypothesis that prior-year county-level rates of jail admission, economic distress, and rurality were positively associated with premature birth rates in the county of delivery in 2019 and that the strength of these associations is greater for Black women than for White or Hispanic women, we merged five datasets to perform multivariable analysis of data from 766 counties across 12 Southern/rural states. Methods We used multivariable linear regression to model the percentage of babies born premature, stratified by Black (Model 1), Hispanic (Model 2), and White (Model 3) mothers. Each model included all three independent variables of interest measured using data from the Vera Institute, Distressed Communities Index, and Index of Relative Rurality. Results In fully fitted stratified models, economic distress was positively associated with premature births among Black (F = 33.81, p < 0.0001) and White (F = 26.50, p < 0.0001) mothers. Rurality was associated with premature births among White mothers (F = 20.02, p < 0.0001). Jail admission rate was not associated with premature births among any racial group, and none of the study variables were associated with premature births among Hispanic mothers. Conclusions Understanding the connections between preterm birth and enduring structural inequities is a necessary scientific endeavor to advance to later translational stages in health-disparities research.
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Zhao Q, Kong Y, Henderson D, Parrish D. Arrest Histories and Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Among Women in the USA. Int J Ment Health Addict 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11469-023-01020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
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Carlson JM, Tannis A, Woodworth KR, Reynolds MR, Shinde N, Anderson B, Hobeheidar K, Praag A, Campbell K, Carpentieri C, Willabus T, Burkhardt E, Torrone E, O’Callaghan KP, Miele K, Meaney-Delman D, Gilboa SM, Olsen EO, Tong VT. Substance Use Among Persons with Syphilis During Pregnancy - Arizona and Georgia, 2018-2021. MMWR. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2023; 72:63-67. [PMID: 36656787 PMCID: PMC9869742 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7203a3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite universal prenatal syphilis screening recommendations and availability of effective antibiotic treatment, syphilis prevalence during pregnancy and the incidence of congenital syphilis have continued to increase in the United States (1,2). Concurrent increases in methamphetamine, injection drug, and heroin use have been described in women with syphilis (3). CDC used data on births that occurred during January 1, 2018-December 31, 2021, from two states (Arizona and Georgia) that participate in the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Pregnant People and Infants Network (SET-NET) to describe the prevalence of substance use among pregnant persons with syphilis by congenital syphilis pregnancy outcome (defined as delivery of a stillborn or live-born infant meeting the surveillance case definition for probable or confirmed congenital syphilis). The prevalence of substance use (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, illicit use of opioids, and other illicit, nonprescription substances) in persons with a congenital syphilis pregnancy outcome (48.1%) was nearly double that among those with a noncongenital syphilis pregnancy outcome (24.6%). Persons with a congenital syphilis pregnancy outcome were six times as likely to report illicit use of opioids and four times as likely to report using other illicit, nonprescription substances during pregnancy than were persons with a noncongenital syphilis pregnancy outcome. Approximately one half of persons who used substances during pregnancy and had a congenital syphilis pregnancy outcome had late or no prenatal care. Tailored interventions should address barriers and facilitators to accessing screening and treatment for syphilis among persons who use substances. The need for syphilis screening and treatment should be addressed at any health care encounter during pregnancy, especially among persons who use substances.
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Incarceration exposure and prescription opioid use during pregnancy. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 235:109434. [PMID: 35405460 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior research demonstrates a high prevalence of substance use, including opioid use, among those who have had personal or vicarious contact with the correctional system. Relatedly, alongside patterns of rising opioid use in general, opioid use during pregnancy is becoming a growing public health concern. Still, risk factors for prescription opioid use during pregnancy remain understudied. This study is the first to assess the connection between a women's personal or vicarious exposure to incarceration in the 12 months prior to birth and patterns of prenatal opioid use. METHODS Data are from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) in 2019 (N = 17,551 mothers). Logistic and multinomial logistic regression are used to assess the association between incarceration exposure and patterns of opioid use during pregnancy. RESULTS Incarceration-exposed women were more likely to use all eight types of prescription opioids assessed in this study (Hydrocodone, Codeine, Oxycodone, Tramadol, Hydromorphone/Meperidine, Oxymorphone, Morphine, and Fentanyl). After adjustment for control variables, incarceration-exposed women were significantly more likely to report any prescription opioid use during pregnancy (OR = 1.745, 95% CI = 1.194, 2.554). Furthermore, relative to no opioid use, incarceration exposure was also associated with illicit prescription opioid use (RRR = 2.979, 1.533, 5.791). CONCLUSIONS Incarceration exposure in the year prior to birth is associated with higher odds of prescription opioid use. These findings add to the burgeoning literature that details a women's exposure to incarceration is a risk marker for substance use and engagement in health risk behaviors that can jeopardize maternal and infant wellbeing.
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Jahn JL, Simes JT. Prenatal healthcare after sentencing reform: heterogeneous effects for prenatal healthcare access and equity. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:954. [PMID: 35549928 PMCID: PMC9102339 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13359-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High rates of imprisonment in the U.S. have significant health, social, and economic consequences, particularly for marginalized communities. This study examines imprisonment as a contextual driver of receiving prenatal care by evaluating whether early and adequate prenatal care improved after Pennsylvania’s criminal sentencing reform reduced prison admissions. Methods We linked individual-level birth certificate microdata on births (n = 999,503) in Pennsylvania (2009–2015), to monthly county-level rates of prison admissions. We apply an interrupted time series approach that contrasts post-policy changes in early and adequate prenatal care across counties where prison admissions were effectively reduced or continued to rise. We then tested whether prenatal care improvements were stronger among Black birthing people and those with lower levels of educational attainment. Results In counties where prison admissions declined the most after the policy, early prenatal care increased from 69.0% to 73.2%, and inadequate prenatal care decreased from 18.1% to 15.9%. By comparison, improvements in early prenatal care were smaller in counties where prison admissions increased the most post-policy (73.5 to 76.4%) and there was no change to prenatal care inadequacy (14.4% pre and post). We find this pattern of improvements to be particularly strong among Black birthing people and those with lower levels of educational attainment. Conclusions Pennsylvania’s sentencing reforms were associated with small advancements in racial and socioeconomic equity in prenatal care. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13359-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaquelyn L Jahn
- The Ubuntu Center On Racism, Global Movements and Population Health Equity, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, 3600 Market St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Jessica T Simes
- Department of Sociology, Boston University, 100 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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Testa A, Jackson DB, Ganson KT, Nagata JM. Maternal adverse childhood experiences and pregnancy intentions. Ann Epidemiol 2021; 64:47-52. [PMID: 34547446 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2021.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The current study investigates the association between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and having an unwanted (i.e., a pregnancy that was undesired) or mistimed pregnancy (i.e., a pregnancy that occurred sooner than wanted). METHODS Data are from the 2018 North Dakota and South Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) (N = 1897). Multinomial logistic regression analyses are used to assess the association between levels of ACE exposure and having an unwanted or mistimed pregnancy relative to an intended pregnancy. RESULTS Findings demonstrated that women with three ACEs (Relative Risk Ratio [RRR] = 2.157, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.121-4.151) and four or more ACEs (RRR = 1.836, 95% CI, 1.181-2.854) had approximately twice the relative risk of having an unwanted pregnancy (vs. an intended pregnancy) compared to women with 0 ACEs. There was no association between ACEs and reporting a mistimed pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS These findings add to a burgeoning literature detailing how accumulating ACEs can create challenges for family planning by increasing the likelihood of having an unintended pregnancy. Study results suggest the need to devote greater resources to the prevention of ACEs and unintended pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Testa
- Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio.
| | - Dylan B Jackson
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Kyle T Ganson
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto
| | - Jason M Nagata
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco
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Elumn JE, Keating L, Smoyer AB, Wang EA. Healthcare-induced trauma in correctional facilities: a qualitative exploration. HEALTH & JUSTICE 2021; 9:14. [PMID: 34152487 PMCID: PMC8215321 DOI: 10.1186/s40352-021-00139-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While incarcerated people are known to experience trauma at higher rates than the general population, little is known about how the correctional health system contributes to trauma rates. METHODS We conducted 20 semi-structured qualitative interviews with men who were recently released from a correctional system to understand their experiences with healthcare systems and medical staff during incarceration. Using reflexive thematic analysis within a critical realist framework, we coded and analyzed the data iteratively to refine and unify emerging themes. RESULTS The unanticipated concept of healthcare-induced trauma emerged and was revealed in three overall themes: (1) healthcare leading to fear of serious illness or death, (2) healthcare leading to fear of people, including healthcare providers, correctional staff, and other incarcerated people, and (3) the correctional institutional, social, and physical environment leads to fear of place. CONCLUSIONS Healthcare in correctional settings has the potential to induce trauma, even when the medical conditions addressed are not life-threatening. Future research should examine the factors contributing to the development of healthcare-induced trauma in correctional settings and develop interventions to prevent and address this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna E. Elumn
- SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, General Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Layne Keating
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, USA
| | - Amy B. Smoyer
- Department of Social Work, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, USA
| | - Emily A. Wang
- SEICHE Center for Health and Justice, General Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
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Liauw J, Jurgutis J, Nouvet E, Dineley B, Kearney H, Reaka N, Fitzpatrick-Lewis D, Peirson L, Kouyoumdjian F. Reproductive healthcare in prison: A qualitative study of women's experiences and perspectives in Ontario, Canada. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251853. [PMID: 34003876 PMCID: PMC8130921 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore women's experiences and perspectives of reproductive healthcare in prison. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured focus groups in 2018 with women in a provincial prison in Ontario, Canada. We asked participants about their experiences and perspectives of pregnancy and contraception related to healthcare in prison. We used a combination of deductive and inductive content analysis to categorize data. A concept map was generated using a reproductive justice framework. RESULTS The data reflected three components of a reproductive justice framework: 1) women have limited access to healthcare in prison, 2) reproductive safety and dignity influence attitudes toward pregnancy and contraception, and 3) women in prison want better reproductive healthcare. Discrimination and stigma were commonly invoked throughout women's experiences in seeking reproductive healthcare. CONCLUSIONS Improving reproductive healthcare for women in prison is crucial to promoting reproductive justice in this population. Efforts to increase access to comprehensive, responsive, and timely reproductive healthcare should be informed by the needs and desires of women in prison and should actively seek to reduce their experience of discrimination and stigma in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Liauw
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jessica Jurgutis
- Department of Indigenous Learning, Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Women’s Studies, Lakehead University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elysée Nouvet
- School of Health Studies, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brigid Dineley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Hannah Kearney
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naomi Reaka
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada
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Hutchinson-Colas J, Sachdev D. COVID-19 and pregnancy care for incarcerated women. Case Rep Womens Health 2021; 30:e00296. [PMID: 33614418 PMCID: PMC7880836 DOI: 10.1016/j.crwh.2021.e00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Juana Hutchinson-Colas
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Devika Sachdev
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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Testa A, Jackson DB. Barriers to Prenatal Care Among Food-Insufficient Women: Findings from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2021; 30:1268-1277. [PMID: 33416423 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study examines the relationship among food insufficiency, adequacy of prenatal care, and barriers to prenatal care. Materials and Methods: Using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2009-2016, negative binomial and logistic regression models were used to assess the association among food insufficiency during pregnancy, late onset of prenatal care, the number of prental care visits, as well as barriers to prenatal care. Results: Findings indicate that food insufficiency is associated with not initiating prenatal care during the first trimester and having fewer overall visits. In addition, food insufficiency is associated with more overall barriers to prenatal care, and this association operates through several specific barriers, including not having enough money, lacking transportation to get to the clinic or doctor's office, not being able to get time off work, not having a Medicaid card, having too many other things going on, and having no one to take care of children. Conclusion: Considering the adverse consequences of both food insufficiency and a lack of sufficient prenatal care for maternal and child health, study findings suggest a need to develop targeted interventions that expand access and remove barriers to prenatal care among food-insufficient women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Testa
- Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Dylan B Jackson
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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