Assessing provision of MOUD and obstetric care in U.S. jails: A content analysis of policies submitted by 59 jails

Abstract

Aims and background: Thousands of pregnant people with opioid use disorder (OUD) interface with the United States (US) carceral system annually. However, little is known about the consistency and breadth of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for incarcerated pregnant people in jail, even at facilities that offer treatment; the goal of our study is to illuminate the current practices for OUD management in US jails.

Methods: We collected and analyzed 59 self-submitted jail policies related to OUD and/or pregnancy from a national, cross-sectional survey of reported MOUD practices for pregnant people in a geographically diverse sample of US jails. Policies were coded for MOUD access, provision, and scope, then compared to respondents' submitted survey responses.

Results: Of 59 policies, 42 (71%) mentioned OUD care during pregnancy. Among these 42 polices that mentioned OUD care during pregnancy, 41 (98%) allowed MOUD treatment, 24 (57%) expressed continuing pre-existing MOUD treatment that was started in the community pre-arrest, 17 (42%) initiated MOUD in custody, and only 2 (5%) mentioned providing MOUD continuation post-partum. Facilities varied in MOUD duration, provision logistics, and discontinuation policies. Only 11 (19%) policies were completely concordant with their survey response regarding MOUD provision in pregnancy.

Conclusions: The conditions, criteria, and the comprehensiveness of MOUD provision and protocols for pregnant people in jail remain variable. The findings demonstrate the need to develop a universal comprehensive MOUD framework for incarcerated pregnant people to reduce the increased likelihood of death from opioid overdose upon release and in the peripartum period.

Keywords: Incarceration; Jails; MOUD; Opioid use disorder; Pregnancy.