Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115624

Jen R. Hult, BA, Catherine Magee, BA, Shelby McMillan, BA, and Ruby-Asuncion Turalba, BA. Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, HSS 326, San Francisco, CA 94132, 415-338-1413, jenhult@sfsu.edu

The number of women prisoners in the state of California has increased dramatically in the last two decades. Additionally, growing evidence indicates that women prisoners are particularly vulnerable to a variety of negative health outcomes, including cervical cancer. These factors demand greater public health attention to this high-risk community with a focus on prevention.

A community health assessment was conducted to determine what is and is not working with the Pap smear and follow-up treatment process at a California state women's prison. This process utilized qualitative interviews with women prisoners and service providers.

The assessment data revealed that the Pap smear process at this institution is generally not meeting the healthcare needs of the women interviewed. Women have negative experiences with the standard of care during the actual exam and with their providers. Further, the prison's punitive culture and bureaucratic infrastructure create barriers for prisoners and healthcare providers to access and deliver quality care, respectively. In response to these challenges, however, women prisoners use skills in self- and community-advocacy to cope with these systemic issues.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to

• understand the rationale for providing prevention and treatment to this high-risk community;
• describe the benefits and challenges of the Pap smear and follow-up treatment process at a women’s prison in California; and
• acknowledge qualitative research methods as a means of giving voice to an underserved population.

Keywords: Prisoners Health Care, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation