29 Sep 2023

Report on pregnant women in prison released

From Morning Report, 8:47 am on 29 September 2023

The Department of Corrections' Office of the Inspectorate has released a report into how pregnant women and those with children under 24 months are managed in New Zealand's three women's prisons.

The report found that generally pregnant women in prison receive the same standard of maternity care as they would in the community, and in some cases are seen more often by their midwife.

But more needs to be done to ensure all women receive pregnancy tests on entry and then address the issues of mothers coping with alcohol and drug addictions.

Chief Inspector and author of the report Janis Adair spoke to Corin Dann.