1. How are the Dietary Needs of Pregnant Incarcerated Women Being Met? A Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis.
- Author
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Capper, Tanya S., Baldwin, Adele, Abbott, Laura, Briley, Annette, and Shlafer, Rebecca
- Subjects
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MATERNAL health services , *ONLINE information services , *CINAHL database , *MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems , *PRISONERS , *FOOD consumption , *SYSTEMATIC reviews , *NUTRITIONAL requirements , *DIET , *MEDICAL care of prisoners , *COMPARATIVE studies , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *LITERATURE reviews , *MEDLINE , *WOMEN'S health , *PREGNANCY - Abstract
Introduction: The number of incarcerated pregnant women is increasing globally. With many having complex health and social backgrounds, incarceration provides opportunities for health interventions, including the chance to have their nutritional needs met. Despite the additional nutritional requirements of pregnancy being well documented, how these are being met within the correctional setting is currently poorly understood. Methods: A scoping review of the literature was conducted to identify the literature published between January 2010 and April 2023 related to the provision of nutrition for pregnant women in the international prison systems. Sixteen papers met the criteria for inclusion in the review. The relevant key findings were charted and thematically analysed. Results: Two themes were identified: 'the inconsistent reality of food provision' and 'choice, autonomy and food'. There is a clear disparity in the way in which diet is prioritised and provided to pregnant incarcerated women across several countries. Discussion: The findings highlight the need for a consistent approach to diet on a macro, global level to ensure the health of women and their infants in context. Significance: What is Already Known on This Subject?: Whilst the additional nutritional requirements of pregnant women are well known, how these translate into the correctional setting is unknown. What this Study Adds?: This scoping review provides a synthesis of the literature related to the provision of diet for incarcerated pregnant women. The findings highlight that prisons housing pregnant and breastfeeding women should ensure that evidence-based policies exist and are enforced to ensure an appropriate diet is provided. Furthermore, flexible access to water and additional snacks between meals should be ensured to meet the women's evolving nutritional needs across the childbearing continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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