Reproductive health care and family planning needs among incarcerated women.
OBJECTIVE
Women in correctional institutions have substantial reproductive health problems, yet they are underserved in receipt of reproductive health care. We assessed the level of risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the reproductive health needs of 484 incarcerated women in Rhode Island to plan an intervention for women returning to the community.


METHODS
We used a 45-minute survey to assess medical histories, pregnancy and birth control use histories, current pregnancy intentions, substance use during the past 3 months, histories of childhood sexual abuse, and health attitudes and behaviors.


RESULTS
Participants had extremely high risks for STDs and pregnancy, which was characterized by inconsistent birth control (66.5%) and condom use (80.4%), multiple partners (38%), and a high prevalence of unplanned pregnancies (83.6%) and STDs (49%). Only 15.4% said it was not likely that they would have sexual relations with a man within 6 months after release.


CONCLUSIONS
Reproductive health services must be offered to incarcerated women. Such interventions will benefit the women, the criminal justice systems, and the communities to which the women will return.
Rhode Island Hospital DGIM, MPB-1, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. jclarke@lifespan.org
Jennifer G
JG
Clarke
Megan R
MR
Hebert
Cynthia
C
Rosengard
Jennifer S
JS
Rose
Kristen M
KM
DaSilva
Michael D
MD
Stein
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology