Confined to Obscurity: Health Challenges of Pregnant Women in Jail

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-185
Author(s):  
Susan J Rose ◽  
Thomas P LeBel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Background Characteristics ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Care Services

Abstract Research about pregnant women in jail is scant. This exploratory study begins to fill this gap by examining the demographics; background characteristics; and self-reported physical health, mental health, and substance use challenges reported by 27 pregnant women incarcerated in a large midwestern county jail. It further reports on the prenatal care before and during their incarceration, plans of these pregnant women for delivery of their child, caring for their infant after their release from jail, and their expectations of paternal or family support post-release. Among the sample, 66.7 percent reported a physical health care problem, 48.2 percent had received mental health treatment, and 18.5 percent had substance use treatment in the previous year, but only 51.9 percent had seen a health care professional before their incarceration. All women expected the father of their child to provide financial support, but only 76.9 percent expected the father to be involved with the child. The authors also discuss implications of the findings for jail health care services and reintegration policy and practice for pregnant women.

Reflections on integrating mental health into primary health care services in remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Haswell-Elkins ◽  
Ernest Hunter ◽  
Tricia Nagel ◽  
Carolyn Thompson ◽  
Brenda Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Services ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

At present, there is a perceived and functional separation of mental health services from the general delivery of primary health care services in remote Indigenous communities in most places in the country. There are a range of issues underlying this separation; many are historical but continue to influence patterns of thinking about mental and physical health. With the increasing shift of focus of care at primary level from being largely reactive to presentations of acute illnesses towards proactive and strategically guided approaches to the management of chronic diseases, coupled with similar national strategic documents guiding mental health care into a primary health care format, the opportunity to integrate the provision of mental and physical health care has never been better. Accompanying this integration should be a reflection and improvement on models of care that address needs of Indigenous people in a more culturally and contextually appropriate manner, as is clearly defined in an increasing range of Indigenous health policy documents. This paper will begin with a summary of the link between mental and physical health supported by key references. It will then briefly reflect on the current organisation of mental and physical health services in remote Indigenous settings of Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory, identifying some of the major disadvantages being experienced. The paper will close with a description of the approach and some early outcomes to address these issues by the Indigenous Stream of the AIMhi project (Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative), which is a major National Health & Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) Strategic Partnership initiative that began implementing a framework of research activities in mid-2003.

scholarly journals Utilization of Health Care Services and Common Disease Diagnoses among University Students: An Analysis of 35,249 Students from Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7148
Author(s):  
Suphawita Pliannuom ◽  
Kanokporn Pinyopornpanish ◽  
Chaisiri Angkurawaranon ◽  
Kanokwan Pinyopornpanish ◽  
Anawat Wisetborisut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
University Students ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Outpatient Department ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Common Diseases ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Inpatient Department

The health care services for university students are important to improve student health and well-being. Analyzing the database of health conditions in the health service system will identify common health problems, which could be useful in further appropriate and specific health service planning. This study aims to investigate the utilization of health care services and common disease diagnoses among university students enrolled at Chiang Mai University during the academic year of 2018. A retrospective study was carried out using health data from the electronic health records (EHR) database of the university hospital. Ethical procedures were followed. Out of the overall 35,249 students in the academic year 2018, 17,284 students (49.03%) had visited an outpatient department (65,150 outpatient department visits), and 407 students (1.15%) had been admitted to the hospital (458 inpatient department admissions). The proportions of utilization between each field of education and training were similar across both groups. The top five categories of diagnosis, for both outpatient department visits and inpatient department admissions, differed between gender. Some of the most common diseases included trauma and injury conditions, respiratory diseases, and mental health. The conclusion of the study is that integration of a health promotion program with preventive methods, especially regarding traffic injury, transmitted diseases, mental health support, and safe environments are essential for university students. A general overview of utilization and common diseases among university students, which is still lacking in the literature, could be useful as a platform to enhance health care services for common diseases.

Supporting Young People at School With High Mental Health Needs

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Rickwood
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health

AbstractFor young people still at school, the school setting is vital to their mental health and wellbeing. Not only does the school environment have a direct and indirect impact on mental health, it provides an opportunistic setting in which to identify and respond to emerging mental health problems. To do this effectively, schools and school staff must work in collaboration with the young people themselves, their families, and other support services within the community, particularly primary health care services, including general practice. The importance of developing effective partnerships and care pathways between schools and the primary health care sector is being increasingly acknowledged, and initiatives such as MindMatters Plus GP have advanced our understanding in this area.

Variation in Utilization of Health Care Services for Rural VA Enrollees With Mental Health-Related Diagnoses

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Johnson ◽  
Ruth L. Bush ◽  
Jeffrey Harman ◽  
Jane Bolin ◽  
Gina Evans Hudnall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health Related

Mental health economics: current methodological issues

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. McCrone
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Mental Health Economics

Background:Investment in innovative mental health care services requires the use of scarce resources that could be used in alternative ways. Economic evaluation is essential to ensure that such an investment is appropriately compared with investment elsewhere.Method:A non-systematic review of mental health evaluations identifies key methodological issues pertaining to economic studies.Results:Economic evaluations require the measurement and combination of costs and outcomes, and clarity about how this measurement is undertaken is required. Regarding costs, important considerations relate to the perspective to be taken (e.g., health service or societal), method of measurement (patient self-report or use of databases) and valuation (actual costs, fees or expenditure). Decision makers frequently need to compare evidence both within and between clinical areas and therefore there is a tension between the use of condition specific and generic outcome measures. Quality-adjusted life years are frequently used in economic evaluations, but their appropriateness in mental health care studies is still debated.Conclusions:Economic evaluations in the area of mental health care are increasing in number and it is essential that researchers continue to develop and improve methods used to conduct such studies.

scholarly journals A Socio-ecological Framing of the Philippine Mental Health Act of 2017

Spectrum ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiah Michael Villareal De Los Santos ◽  
Sonya Jakubec
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Case Review ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Barriers To Implementation ◽  
Sphere Of Influence

Filipinos experience numerous barriers to mental health care in their country, such as stigmatization ofillness and behaviours, lack of mental health care services, and resource deficits. The Philippine MentalHealth Act of 2017 was formed to resolve these issues and is in its early stages of implementation.Legislation and policy interventions of this nature are but one level of many interventions that can addresshealth care at a population level. The influence of this legislation for different levels of society is analyzed inorder to understand the different barriers and alternatives to its implementation. Solutions suggested in thelegislation, such as addressing lack of accessibility in rural areas, creating liaisons between different levelsof mental health care, and educating the population regarding mental health, are explored for their effects ondifferent spheres, or levels, of influence. The comprehensiveness of the legislation to address the needs ofmental health service users are highlighted, as are barriers to implementation that inhibit the realization ofpractical strategies. This policy case review and analysis informs program development by highlighting thestrengths and weaknesses aligned to the legislative articles’ target sphere of influence and the population.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document