"The success is just seeing them connected" - a mixed methods analysis of group-based perinatal education in eight state prisons.

BACKGROUND

Of the 91,100 women incarcerated in the United States, the vast majority are within childbearing age and between 0.5% and 4% are pregnant at intake. Pregnant and postpartum individuals face significant gaps in access to healthcare and support systems inside. Group perinatal education offers one way to supplement existing clinical care and improve physical and mental health outcomes; however, existing research exploring the structure, curricula, and potential benefits of such programming is limited.

METHODS

Three sources of data were collected between 2021 and 2025. Group logs were completed at weekly meetings, individual client satisfaction data was obtained from surveys conducted after birth, and interviews were conducted with subject matter experts from the eight participating states. Group topics and satisfaction were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative interviews were thematically analyzed for perceived benefits.

RESULTS

All sites offered group education and the majority of sessions covered both prenatal and postpartum content. Common topics included coping with incarceration, parenting, and emotional changes during the perinatal period. Group participants reported high levels of satisfaction with both education and peer support. Professionals described a strong sense of community, knowledge-sharing, and increased self-advocacy among group participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Incarcerated birthing people experience multiple forms of marginalization and face unique challenges during the perinatal period, exacerbated by limited access to quality and timely healthcare, mental health resources, and social support outside of prison. Prenatal and postpartum groups fill a critical gap by providing individuals with social, emotional, and informational support.