Reproductive and maternal child health experiences of Indigenous women in prison: A scoping review

Jessica Jurgutis, Christine Wang, Alice Cavanagh, Breagh Cheng, Fiona G. Kouyoumdjian and Jennifer Leason

Social Science & Medicine, 2025, vol. 384, issue C

Abstract: In the context of the over-representation of women who are Indigenous in prisons and historical and structural barriers to health, we undertook a scoping review to understand research regarding the reproductive and maternal health experiences of Indigenous women in prison in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA. We searched online databases in May 2022 since inception, as well as Google and governmental websites between December 2022 and March 2023. We identified 8 eligible articles. Most studies (5) were conducted in Australia, while 2 were conducted in Canada and 1 in the USA. There were 4 qualitative studies, 2 quantitative studies, and 2 mixed methods studies. Five studies reported use of an Indigenous research paradigm. We identified 11 topics across studies: intergenerational trauma and harm, dehumanizing and criminalizing prison environment, systemic neglect of reproductive health, inaccessible health services, absence of culturally sensitive care, adverse maternal-child health outcomes are interrelated and intergenerational, mental health decline during birth and postpartum, current child welfare involvement, parenting challenges in the context of family separation, caregiving responsibility, and visions for holistic healing and health. This review identifies a paucity of evidence. Findings demonstrate how colonial violence and the carceral system in settler colonial countries negatively impact the health of Indigenous women who experience incarceration, and how their access to reproductive health care is limited and below standard. Additional research is needed that centres Indigenous women's voices and that uses Indigenous knowledge systems and methodological frameworks to situate knowledge and inform actions to prevent ongoing harms from the carceral system for Indigenous People.

Keywords: Indigenous; Reproductive health; Maternal health; Australia; Canada; New Zealand; USA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118516

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