Perinatal Health Outcomes Among Women on Community Supervision: A Scoping Review

The purpose of this scoping review is to review the extant literature regarding perinatal health outcomes for women on community supervision in the United States. PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Public Health were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in the United States from January 1, 1970, to March 7, 2023. After removal of duplicates and review of 1,412 article titles and abstracts, 19 articles were retrieved for full-text review; this yielded 4 studies for inclusion. Studies range in size from 10 to 292 participants (N = 405) and only two reported geographic locations. Three studies comprised probation or parole and two studies included court-mandated treatment for substance use. All studies examined outcomes during the postpartum period, such as mood disorder or substance use severity. No studies evaluated the health of women during pregnancy and/or childbirth. To enhance health equity and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality among women on community supervision, more inclusive research that examines health outcomes during the perinatal period is needed. Furthermore, there must be interventions that address the social determinants of health, racial and systemic discrimination, socioeconomic barriers, and violence that are often experienced among women with criminal justice system involvement.