RT Article
T1 Applying a Maternal Standards of Care Audit Tool and Quality Improvement Process to Improve Healthcare for Pregnant Women in Prison
JF International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology
VO 69
IS 15
SP 2050
OP 2066
A1 Usigbe, Joy
A1 Macey, Erin
A1 Klemme, Paige
A1 Williams, Maranda
A1 TurmanJr., Jack E.
A2 Macey, Erin
A2 Klemme, Paige
A2 Williams, Maranda
A2 TurmanJr., Jack E.
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1937673847
AB Women are the fastest growing prison population, but little is known about the quality of maternal care for pregnant women in prison. In partnership with the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) Transitional Healthcare Team (THT), we developed a maternal standard of care (MSOC) audit tool to identify existing strengths and weaknesses and recommend evidence-based strategies for improvement. After creating the MSOC audit tool, we used it to audit 52 charts and conducted interviews of IDOC staff regarding maternal health care processes. Identified strengths include prenatal care, screening/treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and substance use disorders, contraception use, and health education. Mental and nutritional health care are areas of weakness. Staff motivation and community partnerships facilitate positive change, but a “punitive” culture, lack of resources, and communication challenges are barriers to change. Developing accountability tools and processes to promote maternal standards of care holds the potential to increase the health and wellbeing of mothers and their babies and improve re-integration into society.
K1 university prison partnerships
K1 Public Health
K1 Human Rights
K1 Incarceration
K1 maternal health
DO 10.1177/0306624X231206518