NCJ Number
215672
Journal
American Journal of Public Health Volume: 96 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 834-839
Date Published
May 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the level of risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the reproductive health needs of 484 incarcerated women in Rhode Island, in order to plan an intervention for women prior to their release.
Abstract
The study found that the women had extremely high risks for STDs and pregnancy due to inconsistent birth control (66.5 percent) and erratic condom use (80.4 percent). Thirty-eight percent of the women in the sample had multiple partners, and 83.6 percent had experienced unplanned pregnancies; 49 percent had STDs. Only 15.4 percent of the women said it was unlikely that they would have sexual relations with a man within 6 months after their release. The assessment concluded that reproductive health services must be offered to incarcerated women. Such interventions will benefit not only the women but also criminal justice systems and the communities to which the women will return. The authors are currently developing and testing the feasibility and effectiveness of a Title X-sponsored intervention designed to expand reproductive health services during incarceration and then provide continuity of these services within the community once the women are released. The study used a questionnaire to obtain information on the women's medical histories, pregnancy and birth-control histories, current pregnancy intentions, substance use within the past 3 months, histories of childhood sexual abuse, and health attitudes and behaviors. 3 tables and 37 references