Contraceptive Needs and Preferences Among Incarcerated Women

• In Event: 550 - Section on Medical Sociology Paper Session. Health and the Carceral State

Abstract

Women with a history of incarceration in jail have higher rates of inconsistent contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy than women in the general population. Incarceration itself can contribute to women’s risk of unintended pregnancy, as it is a common institutional practice to discontinue women’s hormonal contraceptive methods while they are in custody and birth control is not offered or reinitiated prior to release. There is a dearth of research regarding incarcerated women’s contraceptive method preferences. Filling this gap will provide valuable insight into implementing family planning programs for women in jail, which are necessary for increasing contraceptive use and reducing the rate of unintended pregnancies among women reentering the community. Using original survey data, this paper examines the demographic characteristics; sexual, contraceptive, and reproductive histories and intentions; and contraceptive method preferences among women incarcerated at the Salt Lake County Jail. Understanding what contraceptive methods women want is imperative for improving birth control utilization and reducing the rate of unintended pregnancies, which has the potential to improve the lives of women after incarceration.

Author

• Kyl Myers, University of Utah