Women in prison have distinct reproductive well-being needs. Most are of reproductive age, and many are mothers. Their reproductive well-being concerning menstruation, childbearing, and newborn care are often overlooked. Prison reproductive health care in many countries is not a priority policy area, and is often constrained by limited resources, particularly in low-income countries such as the Philippines. The ultimate goal of this paper is to explore the experiences and challenges of incarcerated pregnant women and institutional barriers and provide policy recommendations. This research project used a qualitative inductive approach to explore imprisoned women’s pregnancy experiences and institutional barriers. The project found that the participants’ experiences of childbearing in prison were reflected in three overarching themes: a) Lack of autonomy over pregnancy, b) Reduced capacity to manage discomforts and needs, and c) Coping with prison deprivations. These accounts embody women’s experiences of how imprisonment disrupts Filipino women’s childbearing and mothering experiences. Furthermore, the results illustrated how the women navigate the prison regime to address their needs and cope with the pains of imprisonment.
This paper highlights the urgent need to reform correctional policies and practices to address the distinct needs of incarcerated women. Given the profound impact of imprisonment and lack of support on the well-being of pregnant women and newborns, the Government should consider non-custodial measures such as house arrest and electronic monitoring.

Should We Imprison Pregnant Women? Lived Experiences, Institutional Barriers, and Policy Recommendations (PID059)

Speakers

Dr Romulo Nieva Jr RN, MHSS, PhD