Perinatal outcome for women in prison

Abstract

Pregnancy outcome for 233 women in prison was reviewed. This group of patients presented with multiple perinatal high-risk factors: history of illicit drug use (71%), smoking (70%), and obstetrical (27%), medical (21%), nutritional (20%), and infectious complications (20%). Maternal morbidity was uncommon and the overall cesarean section rate for all prisoners was 16%. There was 1 stillbirth and 236 live-born infants, all of whom were discharged in good health. Prematurity (3%) and delivery of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) (8%) infants was less common among 187 women who received adequate prenatal care than in 46 prisoners with poor or late prenatal care (prematurity 20% and SGA 28%). Good perinatal outcome for women in prison can be achieved if comprehensive prenatal care is available.