Investigating maternal and infant mortality among incarcerated women during and after pregnancy
Official title: Maternal and Infant Mortality among Women Incarcerated During the Perinatal Period: Understanding the Impact of Healthcare and Correctional System Factors
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11105080 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being in prison affects the health of pregnant women and their babies, especially focusing on issues like pregnancy-related deaths and stillbirths, to help improve healthcare for these women and their infants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $741,475 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD117944-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11105080 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women or new mothers who are currently incarcerated or have been incarcerated within the past year.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not incarcerated or who have not been pregnant in the past year may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand the impact of incarceration on maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly focusing on women who are pregnant or have recently given birth while incarcerated. It will analyze data to identify the incidence and causes of pregnancy-related deaths, stillbirths, and infant mortality in this population. By examining the healthcare and correctional system factors that contribute to these outcomes, the study seeks to highlight disparities and gaps in care. The findings could inform public health strategies and correctional health policies to improve maternal and infant health for incarcerated women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved healthcare policies and practices that reduce maternal and infant mortality rates among incarcerated women.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific focus on incarcerated women during the perinatal period is novel, there is existing research on maternal mortality and incarceration that highlights significant health disparities.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sufrin, Carolyn — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Sufrin, Carolyn
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.