Perinatal Nurses' Experiences With and Knowledge of the Care of Incarcerated Women During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period.
Lorie S Goshin, D R Gina Sissoko, Grace Neumann and 2 others
PMID 30528303WHAT IT FOUND
Most perinatal nurses had cared for shackled incarcerated women, yet few knew the professional position statement or state laws governing restraint.
Advocacy for shackle removal was more common among nurses who were aware of the position statement.
Key findings
0174% of participants reported experience caring for incarcerated women in hospital perinatal units.
02Most participants did not know about the AWHONN position statement on shackling or their state's laws.
03Nurses who advocated for shackle removal were more likely to know about the AWHONN position statement than those who never advocated.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The response rate was low (8.2%), which limits generalizability. The survey did not ask when participants cared for incarcerated women, so it is unclear if the reported practices reflect current or historical standards. The data reflect only nurses' experiences and knowledge, not the actual birth experiences or outcomes of the incarcerated women. The survey used investigator-developed questions, and while pilot-tested, the psychometric properties of the knowledge assessment are not extensively detailed.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflict of interest or relevant financial relationships.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high percentage of nurses reporting experience with shackled women as evidence that current hospital policies routinely violate ethical standards. The survey did not capture when this care occurred, so the findings may reflect historical practices from before recent legal and professional changes.