Effectiveness of a Prison-Based Healthy Pregnancy Curriculum Delivered to Pregnant Inmates: A Pilot Study

Incarcerated women experience stress related to their prison sentence, and this can be aggravated by pregnancy-related changes, with pregnant women at higher risks of adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes related to mental health problems and infant low birth weight. In a Midwestern correctional facility, 25 pregnant women were enrolled in a 4-week health and mental health education workshop comprised of seven sessions that taught women about self and infant care. Each 90-minute session included education and guided discussions using handouts that each participant could take with them. Pre and post-test surveys to measure change in knowledge were completed after each session. Findings indicate that an educational intervention for incarcerated pregnant women can lead to change in knowledge about self and infant care.