156558 Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Use among Incarcerated Women in Brazil

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 9:35 AM

Elizabeth A. Reed, PhD , Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Fatima Caminha , Violence Research Group, Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP), Recife-PE, Brazil
Gilliatt Falbo , Violence Research Group, Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP), Recife-PE, Brazil
Deborah Cook, MPH , Department for Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Michele R. Decker, ScD , Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Jay G. Silverman, PhD , Department of Society, Human Development & Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA
        
Background: Reports of experiences of violence are significantly higher among incarcerated women compared to women in the general population. Numerous consequences of violence against women have been documented in the literature, including effects on mental health and substance use. However, few or no studies have been conducted to evaluate this relationship among incarcerated women.

Design/Methods: The data are from a cross-sectional survey of all women in the prison over a 6 month period (n= 377). A minority of women incarcerated during this time were not able to participate in the survey. Multivariate logistic regression models with all exposures (lifetime reports of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and life threats) and identified covariates were used to examine associations with women's recent depression and substance use.

Results: Almost 87% of women reported experiencing some type of violence in their lifetime; about 36% reported sexual victimization, one third reported having their lives threatened, and there was a high prevalence of physical abuse (83%). Physical violence, however, was not found to be significantly related to recent substance use or depression. Sexual violence was significantly related to both recent depression (OR=1.7; 95%CI: 1.1-2.9) and recent substance use (OR=2.0; 95% CI : 1.3-3.2). Life threats were also found to be significantly associated with recent substance use (OR=1.7; 95%CI: 1.1-2.9).

Conclusion: While reports of lifetime physical violence among this incarcerated sample of women was extremely prevalent, only experiences of sexual violence were relevant to both women's recent substance use and depression. These unique findings will be explored.

Learning Objectives:
1. To identify the prevalence of violence, perpetrators, and the types of violence experienced throughout a lifetime among incarcerated women in an urban northeast city of Brazil 2. To describe the relationship between women’s lifetime experiences of violence and recent depression and substance use among a population of incarcerated women 3. To better understand how specific types of violence determine women’s mental health and substance use behaviors

Keywords: Incarceration, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Women Prisoners: Dignity, Advocacy, and Health
See more of: APHA-Committee on Women's Rights