title: Pregnancy, prison and perinatal outcomes in New South Wales, Australia: a retrospective cohort study using linked health data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies from the United States and the United Kingdom have found that imprisoned women are less likely to experience poorer maternal and perinatal outcomes than other disadvantaged women. This population-based study used both community controls and women with a history of incarceration as a control group, to investigate whether imprisoned pregnant women in New South Wales, Australia, have improved maternal and perinatal outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study using probabilistic record linkage of routinely collected data from health and corrective services in New South Wales, Australia. Comparison of the maternal and perinatal outcomes of imprisoned pregnant women aged 18-44 years who gave birth between 2000-2006 with women who were (i) imprisoned at a time other than pregnancy, and (ii) community controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  onset of labour, method of birth, pre-term birth, low birthweight, Apgar score, resuscitation, neonatal hospital admission, perinatal death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Babies born to women who were imprisoned during pregnancy were significantly more likely to be born pre-term, have low birthweight, and be admitted to hospital, compared with community controls. Pregnant prisoners did not have significantly better outcomes than other similarly disadvantaged women (those with a history of imprisonment who were not imprisoned during pregnancy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to the published literature, we found no evidence that contact with prison health services during pregnancy was a "therapunitive" intervention. We found no association between imprisonment during pregnancy and improved perinatal outcomes for imprisoned women or their neonates. A history of imprisonment remained the strongest predictor of poor perinatal outcomes, reflecting the relative health disadvantage experienced by this population of women.
authors: National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Randwick Hospitals Campus, Level 2, McNevin Dickson Building, Randwick 2031, NSW, Australia. jane.walker@unsw.edu.au.
authors: Jane R
authors: JR
authors: Walker
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Hilder
authors: Michael H
authors: MH
authors: Levy
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007745:Labor Onset; D008423:Maternal Age; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009517:New South Wales; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult