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Jail programming is rarely informed by site-specific health needs, diagnostic-specific screening tools that are validated, or the input of incarcerated individuals. Using the community needs assessment (CNA) framework, we aimed to fill these gaps among people incarcerated in the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility (PCRDF), Arkansas' largest jail. Participants were 179 adults at the PCRDF who completed surveys and open-ended questions focused on (a) their mental and behavioral health and (b) programming needs at the facility. Using a concurrent transformative mixed-methods design, we descriptively analyzed surveys and conducted content analysis of the open-ended questions. Over half of participants reported clinically significant anxiety (62.6%), post-traumatic stress disorder (53.1%), and/or depression (50.3%) symptoms; positive substance use disorder screening was especially common (91.7%). Nearly all (97%) individuals queried desired more programming, with the most desired being mental health and substance use programs. Other desired programs included physical health, education, community reintegration, family support, recreation, nutrition, religious/spiritual services, and meditation. Our CNA ensured the input of those directly impacted during program-focused decision making and identified strategies to effectively implement and sustain jail-based programs. Such assessments can be a potential mechanism for addressing the burden of mental and behavioral health problems in jail populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prisons face challenges in meeting the unique health care needs of women, especially those who are pregnant. This retrospective chart review sought to describe the maternal and infant health outcomes of incarcerated women who received prenatal care while in an Arkansas prison. Methods: Using a hospital-based electronic medical records (EMR) system, we examined the maternal health history and current pregnancy characteristics of 219 pregnant women who received prenatal care while incarcerated from June 2014 to May 2019. We also examined labor and delivery characteristics and postpartum and infant birth outcomes for the 146 women from this cohort who delivered a living child while still incarcerated. Results: Most records indicated complex health histories with several chronic illnesses, mental health diagnoses, history of substance use, and lifetime medical complications. Despite comorbid illness, substance use disorder (SUD), trauma-history, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence was lower than expected. Previous and current obstetrical complications were common. Although the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission rate (41%) was high, few infants required extensive treatment intervention. Postpartum complications were rare; however, a small portion of women who gave birth in custody experienced severe complications and were re-admitted to the hospital post-discharge. Conclusions: Incarcerated pregnant women and their infants are a marginalized population in great need of health care advocacy. To optimize maternal-infant outcomes, carceral agencies must recognize the health needs of incarcerated pregnant women and provide appropriate prenatal care. Expansion of carceral perinatal care to include screening for SUD and psychiatric symptoms (e.g., PTSD) and referral to appropriate care is highly encouraged. Policies related to NICU admission for non-medical reasons should be further examined. Significance: What is already known on this subject? Pregnant incarcerated women are at high risk for poor perinatal outcomes; however, knowledge of maternal and infant outcomes remains limited. Studies that exist are limited to a small number of outcomes and focus on immediate birth outcomes (e.g., prematurity, birthweight, NICU admission) with little data related to maternal and infant complications experienced during labor, delivery and postpartum, and infant diagnoses at delivery and discharge. What this study adds? Our study adds to what is known about the outcomes of incarcerated pregnant women by documenting their overall maternal health, previous and current pregnancy characteristics, and maternal and infant outcomes inclusive of the prenatal, labor and delivery, and postnatal periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incarcerated women report high rates of sexual victimization. Interviews with 63 previously incarcerated women survivors of sexual violence explored perceptions toward receiving trauma-focused therapy while incarcerated and postrelease trauma-focused therapy utilization. Nearly all participants (97%) recommended that trauma-focused therapy be available to incarcerated women. Most believed that prisons are acceptable places to receive trauma-focused therapy, without qualification (65%); some reported mixed feelings or indicated acceptability but identified factors that would increase acceptability (33%). Notably, most were currently experiencing trauma-related symptoms, but few had attended trauma-focused therapy following release. Findings indicate that access to prison-based trauma-focused therapy is necessary and acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy is a critical time to provide access to substance use treatment; this is especially true among incarcerated populations, who are known to be at particularly high risk of poor health outcomes. In this integrated literature review, we (1) report what is known about the prevalence of substance use among incarcerated pregnant and postpartum populations; (2) describe substance use treatment programs and current care practices of pregnant and postpartum populations in carceral settings; and (3) explore recommendations and strategies for increasing access to substance use treatment for incarcerated pregnant and postpartum populations. A comprehensive search of seven electronic databases yielded in the retrieval of 139 articles that were assessed for inclusion. Of the retrieved articles, 33 articles met criteria for inclusion in this review. A review of the literature revealed that the understanding of substance use prevalence among pregnant incarcerated women is limited. We also found that treatment of substance use disorders among pregnant and postpartum populations is not routinely available, enhanced perinatal services are sorely needed, and substance use treatment programs are feasible with the help of community partnerships. More research is required to understand current substance use treatment initiatives and outcomes for pregnant women in prison. In addition, strategies for integrating evidence-based, substance use treatment in carceral settings is also needed. Future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the need to improve corrections-based health care in the United States. It states under 0.1 percent of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research grants focus on justice-focused health research and mentions two NIH-funded training programs focusing on prison populations provide mentored research opportunities. It talks about health disparities that mass incarcerations in the U.S. have created and the need for more funding for multidisciplinary training programs.