![]() ![]() Only 5 to 8% of prisoners were over the age of 55 when assessed in 2016, which means that the majority of women in prisons were in their reproductive years or nearing the years of menopause.Įvidence has consistently shown that women who are at high risk for arrest and imprisonment are very often poor and from racial and ethnic minorities. Of the women in state prisons, 25% had been convicted of a drug offense, and in federal prisons 56% were serving time for drug offenses. In the United States, over 200,000 women were counted as being under the jurisdiction of state or federal corrections in 2015. ![]() I argue that incarcerated women should have access to reproductive health care including contraception, women’s health screenings, prenatal care, and terminations while in prison because of the long-term consequences of health complications and unwanted or high-risk pregnancy. For women there are numerous needs that differ from those of male prisoners, including a range of reproductive needs. One of the ways in which prison systems infringe upon these rights is by limiting or denying access to appropriate health care for prisoners. ![]() These efforts demonstrate the decades-long history of addressing abuses of power, prison labor, and cruel and unusual treatment of prisoners. Easton writes that “rights protect individuals from the state and protect the weakest individuals in society from the majority by according individuals the right to be treated with equal concern and respect.” She argues that rights are invariably universal and are consequently available to all regardless of whether or not some individuals in society appear “less deserving.” Prisoners’ rights movements began in the 1960s with prison riots across the states and later transformed into high-profile legal cases. In her book Prisoners’ Rights: Principles and Practice , Susan Easton addresses the meaning of having rights while in prison and how those meanings have changed over time and vary by country and legislation. While some may argue that being incarcerated is equivalent to no longer having autonomy over one’s person and desires, prisoners are entitled to rights and the degree of those rights and liberties are often controversial. Nearly 2 million people in the United States are incarcerated, approximately 750 per 100,000, with the majority being Black or Hispanic. The prison system perpetuates health disparities in multiple ways, resulting in increased mortality and morbidity among prisoners. This includes the uninsured, poor, and incarcerated. Although his impact on reproductive rights is to be determined, those who will be disproportionately impacted by further compromise of reproductive rights will always be the most vulnerable women among us. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, Kavanaugh’s track record reveals consistent opposition to abortion rights and the ACA’s provisions for maternal and reproductive health. The recent confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court raises concern about the future of reproductive health, particularly access to abortion and affordable contraception. The following manuscript was published as part of the February 2019 Social Medicine theme issue.
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