title: Systematic mixed-methods review of interventions, outcomes and experiences for imprisoned pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review published studies reporting maternity experiences and outcomes for pregnant incarcerated women and their babies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Numbers of women in prison have increased in many countries. Imprisoned women who are pregnant are particularly vulnerable and marginalised. Little is known about their maternity care experiences, or outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic mixed-methods review using a segregated approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE Psych INFO and PubMed were searched using the terms 'mother' and 'prison', (January 1995-July 2012). From July 2012-May 2014 possible new studies were identified through scrutiny of 50 relevant journal contents pages via Zetoc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven studies met the review criteria and quality standards, all from the USA or UK. Four of the studies were quantitative; two were qualitative; and one used mixed-methods. None reported the outcomes of an intervention. Examination of the quantitative data identified a complex picture of potential harms and benefits for babies born in prison. Qualitative data revealed the unique needs of childbearing women in prison, as they continuously negotiate being an inmate, becoming a mother, complex social histories and the threat of losing their baby, all coalescing with opportunities for transformation offered by pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is very limited published data on the experiences and outcomes of childbearing women in prison. There appear to be no good quality intervention studies examining the effectiveness of interventions to improve well-being in the short or longer term for these women and their babies.
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
authors.forename: Soo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Downe
authors.affiliation: School of Health, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kingdon
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: babies; birth; experiences; interventions; maternity care; midwifery; nursing; pregnant; prison; systematic mixed-methods review