Expanding Knowledge About and Evaluating Services for Incarcerated Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Arkansas

NCT04421235 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 260265UL1TR003107
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 10
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The number of women who are incarcerated in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the past 20 years-over 750%, or from 13,258 in 1980 to 111,616 in 2016. Arkansas incarcerates 92 women per 100,000 population compared to 57 per 100,000 average across all states, ranking the state as the 8th highest in the nation. Over 75% of incarcerated women are of childbearing age and about 4% are pregnant upon intake. However, little is known about the population of women who have become incarcerated while pregnant in Arkansas - including the outcomes of these women and their children and how these outcomes may vary in relation to services that are received during incarceration. This research study aims to first expand knowledge on incarcerated women in Arkansas by using administrative data to retrospectively examine the health status and outcomes of pregnant women who were incarcerated in state prison by Arkansas from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2019 (a five-year cohort; Aim 1). Then, we will lay the groundwork for and subsequently analyze data on outcomes and perspectives of women who have been incarcerated in Arkansas while pregnant (Aims 2 and 3). We will also seek to understand the feasibility and acceptability of elements of an enhanced support program for incarcerated pregnant women recently launched via a collaboration between Arkansas Department of Corrections and UAMS.

Conditions

Health Problems in Pregnancy; Childbirth Problems; Maternal Care Patterns; Quality of Life; Emotional Stress; Health Care Acceptability; Health Risk Behaviors; Parent-Child Relations

Keywords

Incarcerated Women; Prison

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Program Utilization

  % of eligible women who choose to enroll in each program component

  Up to 12 months after delivery

• Program Acceptability

  Self-report ratings of the acceptability of each program component

  Up to 12 months after delivery

Secondary Outcomes (11)

• Depressive Symptoms

  Up to 12 months after delivery

• Depressive Symptoms

  Up to 12 months after delivery

• PTSD Symptoms

  Up to 12 months after delivery

• Drug Use

  Up to 12 months after delivery

• Health-Related Quality of Life

  Up to 12 months after delivery

Study Arms (1)

Childbirth Support

Women who enroll in the intervention portion of this study will receive the childbirth support elements for which they are eligible in and elect to participate. Possible program elements include prenatal education classes, support group, lactation program, doula support, and parenting classes.

Behavioral: Childbirth support

Interventions

Childbirth support BEHAVIORAL

There are 5 program components that women may receive as a part of childbirth support: Prenatal education - consists of up to 8 sessions of education on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum health and wellness. Support group - semi-structured group which provides time for women to process their pregnancy and postpartum-related experiences with other women facing similar challenges. Integrates mindfulness exercises, cognitive-behavioral skills, and special topics as requested by group members. Lactation program - program for women who wish to provide breastmilk for infants from which they are separated. Doula support program - 2 prenatal and 2 postnatal individual visits with a doula who will also provide continuous childbirth support and support during separation from infants. Parenting classes - group classes focused on helping women learn parenting skills and (if applicable) meet state requirements for reunification with children

Childbirth Support

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of administrative data on women who were: 1) incarcerated in the Hawkins Unit at Wrightsville Prison between June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2019 (a five-year cohort prior to initiation of Growing Together) and 2) who received pre- and/or post-natal health care services during that incarceration.

You may qualify if:

• Women incarcerated in Arkansas state prison system
• years or older
• Able to give informed consent
• Pregnant or has given birth in past year

You may not qualify if:

• Under 18 years of age

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Arkansas: lead
• National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Health Risk Behaviors

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Treatment Adherence and Compliance; Health Behavior

Study Officials

• Melissa Zielinski, PhD

  University of Arkansas

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2020
• First Posted: June 9, 2020
• Study Start: November 19, 2021
• Primary Completion: January 30, 2024
• Study Completion: January 30, 2024
• Last Updated: July 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)