Pregnant inmates: risk factors and pregnancy outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To document the risk factors and outcomes of pregnant women incarcerated in a maximum-security prison.


METHODS
Descriptive correlational study.


METHODS
Women's correctional facility.


METHODS
Eighty-nine pregnant women incarcerated during the third trimester of pregnancy.


METHODS
Medical, obstetric, life-style, and psychologic risk factors during pregnancy; birth weight; weeks of gestation at delivery; and presence of congenital anomalies in the newborn.


RESULTS
Numerous risk factors during pregnancy, including chemical dependency, poor nutritional status, poor obstetric histories, high levels of anxiety and depression, and inadequate prenatal care.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for intensive prenatal education for incarcerated women and for chemical dependency treatment programs designed specifically for incarcerated pregnant women. Interventions that address psychologic distress also are needed.
Fogel
C I
CI
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7460.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D011329:Prisoners; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control