User:Suz.CSUF/Reproductive health care for incarcerated women in the United States

Contraception
Incarcerated women are given access to contraceptives, however, the majority of contraceptives offered are irreversible procedures with lack of counseling in guiding their decision. According to a 2021 research study, approximately 50% of prisons and 83% of jails allow for residing incarcerated women to receive permanent contraception regardless of whether a written policy was enforced. Ten out of 22 state prisons and all six jails studied offered reversible contraceptives, however, there were 6 prisons that offered permanent contraception and not reversible contraception. It is estimated that approximately 6-10% of incarcerated women are pregnant and that most of these women find out once they have already been taken to either jail or prison. Researchers find this to be concerning and emphasize the need for emergency contraceptive usage for them. Incarcerated women who are newly arrested can be offered emergency contraception based on eligibility. Reasons for ineligibility include being over 44 years old, they can’t speak English, or they cannot consent. Women are also able to decline to enroll for eligibility and some could not be deemed eligible due to the nature of their charges or a research assistant not assisting them within a day of the arrest.

Nine out of 22 prisons and one of 6 jails paid for giving women permanent contraception while 2 prisons had other methods of payment. Some institutions consider the cost to be covered in the fee that is used to cover prison health care. Four jails offered residing female prisoners to cover costs using their own insurance, government provided insurance, or payment of hospital bill to receive permanent contraception.