Oral

Women’s health needs change across the lifecourse, particularly for special populations which may face disparities in health outcomes. College-aged women, incarcerated women, and women underrepresented in academic fields are increasingly being studied to identify public health interventions to improve overall health. Women experience higher rates of abuse prior to incarceration, both as children and as adults, as compared to the general population. Minority women are underrepresented among the professoriate in U.S. universities and may face additional stressors in balancing work-life responsibilities, including childrearing and mental and physical health. In this oral session, panelists will present studies examining women’s health concerns of special populations, including college-aged and incarcerated women. The impact of women’s mental and physical health outcomes on children and risk of future health outcomes will be discussed. Coping strategies such as expanding social support networks, religion and faith, and physical activity will be presented to inform future interventions.

Session Objectives: Explore factors contributing to HPV vaccine disparities among college women; Identify the types of abuse experienced by women prior to incarceration and describe how abuse contributes to the trajectory of female incarceration; and Examine women’s child-rearing experiences and the association with mental and physical health

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)