Contraceptive Needs Among Women Recently Incarcerated at a Rural Appalachian Jail

Contraceptive Needs Among Women Recently Incarcerated at a Rural Appalachian Jail

Blog Article

Background: Incarceration is associated with negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes.We examined contraceptive needs among women incarcerated at a rural Appalachian jail with emphasis on pregnancy history, recent contraceptive use, and current and near-future contraceptive needs.Materials and Methods: A survey was administered to newly incarcerated women at a jail in Southwest Virginia.It included questions about (1) prior pregnancies; (2) pregnancy intentions, contraceptive use, and sexual activity in the 3 months before jail; (3) unprotected sex in Back Console the 5 days before jail; (4) interest in contraceptive education and access during incarceration; and (5) post-release sexual activity, pregnancy, and contraceptive plans.

Results: One hundred ninety-three women completed surveys.Analyses focused on the 95 at risk for pregnancy.Fifty-eight percent of prior pregnancies on which women provided intention information were unintended, with 74% of respondents reporting at least 1 such pregnancy.Ninety-four percent of women reported vaginal Eleuthero Root intercourse during the 3 months before jail.

Only 46% of those who did not want to get pregnant reported consistent contraceptive use.Condoms and withdrawal were the most common methods used.Forty percent of women were eligible for emergency contraception (EC).Most (78%) participants anticipated sex with a man within 6 months of release, and most (63%) did not want to become pregnant within a year of release.

Almost half (47%) expressed interest in receiving birth control while in jail.Conclusions: Results support the need to offer women EC on incarceration, family planning education during confinement, and effective birth control before release.