Access to healthcare services during incarceration among female inmates

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabia Ahmed ◽  
Cybele Angel ◽  
Rebecca Martel ◽  
Diane Pyne ◽  
Louanne Keenan
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Incarcerated Women ◽  
Female Inmates ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Correctional Health ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Incarcerated women have a disproportionate burden of infectious and chronic disease, in addition to substance use disorder and mental health illness, when compared to the general population (Binswanger et al., 2009; Fazel et al., 2006; Fuentes, 2013; Kouyoumdjian et al., 2012). Women often enter the correctional system in poor health, making incarceration an opportunity to address health issues. The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to accessing health services that female inmates face during incarceration, the consequences to their health, and implications for correctional health services delivery. Design/methodology/approach Focus groups were conducted in Canadian correctional center with female inmates. Focus groups explored women’s experiences with accessing health services while incarcerated; the impact of access to health services on health during incarceration and in the community; and recommendations for improving access to health services. Thematic analysis was completed using N-vivo 10. Findings The women described multiple barriers to accessing health services that resulted in negative consequences to their health: treatment interruption; health disempowerment; poor mental and physical health; and recidivism into addiction and crime upon release. Women made three important recommendations for correctional health service delivery: provision of comprehensive health entry and exit assessments; improvement of health literacy; and establishment of health support networks. The recommendations were organized into an “Accessing Health Services Resource Manual” for incarcerated women. Originality/value There is a paucity of existing literature examining provision of health services for female inmates. These findings have relevancy for correctional and community health care providers and organizations that provide health services for this vulnerable population.

When prison is “easier”: probationers’ perceptions of health and wellbeing

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Plugge ◽  
Anees Ahmed Abdul Pari ◽  
Janet Maxwell ◽  
Sarah Holland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
Important Health ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – There are currently over 300,000 offenders in England and Wales and the majority, around 240,000, are in the community on probation. However, there is a paucity of research on their health and healthcare needs. The purpose of this paper is to explore issues around health and access to health services for those on probation. In particular the paper explores what people on probation consider to be the key health issues currently affecting them, and to identify barriers to accessing healthcare in the community. Design/methodology/approach – The authors ran six focus groups with a total of 41 participants; two were with staff and the others with men and women on probation. In each focus group, the researchers used semi-structured guide and the discussions were recorded electronically and then transcribed. The paper adopted a thematic analytical framework and used NVivo 7 to facilitate analysis. Findings – Both probationers and professionals largely agreed about the key issues which included substance use and mental health problems. However, the most important issue for probationers was dealing with the stress of being on probation which was not generally recognised by professionals. All participants recognised the impact of issues such as housing, finances and employment on the wellbeing of probationers and were concerned about the lack of access to health services, in particular mental health and alcohol services. Research limitations/implications – This was a small study conducted in one part of England and therefore it is not clear that the findings are generalisable. However, it raises important issues about the mental health needs of probationers and the lack of appropriate services for them. Effective services may have positive impact on re-offending and further research is needed to evaluate models of care. Practical implications – The challenge remains for local health service commissioners and providers and the probation service to work together to provide appropriate and accessible services for all those on probation. Originality/value – Nearly one-quarter of a million people are on probation at any one time in the UK but the existing evidence on their health is patchy and dated. Little is known about effective health interventions or the extent to which their health needs are met. This study shows that probationers see the stress of being on probation as their most important health concern. Both probationers and staff recognise that mental health and substance use are persistent problems and that these important health needs in these areas are not being met by existing services.

scholarly journals The Role of Religious Leaders in Curbing the spread of HIV/Aids in Nigeria

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Olubayo Oluduro
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Real Difference ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Aids Pandemic ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hiv Aids

The tragic impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Nigeria and its rate of escalation despite increasing access to health services have been alarming and terrifying. Nigerian people are very religious, yet the impact of the pandemic leaves nothing untouched. The article examines the response of the Nigerian religious leaders to the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It discusses some of the challenges facing religious leaders as they grapple with the consequences of this pandemic and explores ways in which they can make a real difference in halting its spread.

scholarly journals The impact of social health insurance on rural populations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Green ◽  
Bruce Hollingsworth ◽  
Miaoqing Yang
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Health Insurance ◽  
Social Health ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Access To Health ◽  
The Impact

AbstractImproving health outcomes of rural populations in low- and middle-income countries represents a significant challenge. A key part of this is ensuring access to health services and protecting households from financial risk caused by unaffordable medical care. In 2003, China introduced a heavily subsidised voluntary social health insurance programme that aimed to provide 800 million rural residents with access to health services and curb medical impoverishment. This paper provides new evidence on the impact of the scheme on health care utilisation and medical expenditure. Given the voluntary nature of the insurance enrolment, we exploit the uneven roll-out of the programme across rural counties as a natural experiment to explore causal inference. We find little effect of the insurance on the use of formal medical care and out-of-pocket health payments. However, there is evidence that it directed people away from informal health care towards village clinics, especially among patients with lower income. The insurance has also led to a reduction in the use of city hospitals among the rich. The shift to village clinics from informal care and higher-level hospitals suggests that the NRCMS has the potential to improve efficiency within the health care system and help patients to obtain less costly primary care. However, the poor quality of primary care and insufficient insurance coverage for outpatient services remains a concern.

scholarly journals Healthcare challenges of incarcerated women in Australia: An integrative review

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Christine Stewart ◽  
Sharon L Bourke ◽  
Janet A Green ◽  
Elianna Johnson ◽  
Ligi Anish ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Prison Population ◽  
Incarcerated Women ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Access To Health

Background: Despite the rise in numbers of incarceration women, disparities between health care services and access exist. The health needs of incarcerated women is complex and influenced by multiple social determinants of health.Purpose: Explore the healthcare issues of incarcerated women within Australian Prisons.Methods: Integrative review of the literature.Results: Incarcerated women represent a small proportion of the prison population within Australia, however, health outcomes are significantly impacted. Socioeconomic status, abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), previous incarceration, generational factors are some of the factors impeding the health of incarcerated women. Mental health, chronic disease conditions, maternal and child factors are significant health concerns of this vulnerable population. There is a disparity in health access and programs to improve their health outcomes. This paper explores the challenges impacting the health of incarcerated women.Conclusions: Significant disparities exist in the access of health services available to incarcerated women. There needs to be more focus upon improving access to health services and health support programs to meet the complex health needs of incarcerated in Australia. Furthermore, there is a need for more primary health nurses to prevent and address the healthcare issues of this population.

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