307484
A public health discussion initiative to enhance services for incarcerated women
Incarcerated women’s health needs are often unmet by prison services leading to a high degree of social disadvantage and a high incidence of serious diseases which has caused imprisonment to become an important public health issue. The Public Health Initiative was developed after the idea that the environment one lives affects one’s health and well-being. Therefore, by acknowledging that the prison system lacks educational programs and the provision of healthcare services, this initiative aimed at raising incarcerated women’s awareness about health and improving preventative care access and quality.
Description
The initiative consisted of gender-based and trauma informed panel discussions on smoking cessation, family planning, STDs/STIs, nutrition and weight management, hypertension and diabetes, and oral health. Eighty-five inmates were surveyed during the 2013 Pennsylvania Prison Society’s resource fair at the Riverside Correctional Facility in Philadelphia, PA. The results led to the selection of discussion topics. The women had the opportunity to discuss their concerns with health professionals and were educated on the availability and accessibility of preventative care services through the Affordable Care Act.
Lessons Learned
Prison policies overlook the health needs of incarcerated women. Interventions need to be implemented to promote physical and mental wellbeing. Problem areas to address include substance abuse, transmission of communicable disease, lack of exercise, poor diet, no sense of purpose, and maintaining contact with family and the outside world.
Recommendations
Key portions of these discussions will be translated into videos to be shown at all housing units regularly over the Philadelphia Prison System closed-circuit TV network.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health educationEpidemiology
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Program planning
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Learning Objectives:
Describe why imprisonment has become a public health issue.
Discuss public health problems that need to be addressed to improve incarcerated women's health.
Keyword(s): Criminal Justice, Prisoners Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a MPH student candidate (expected graduation in May, 2014) who has been conducting my public health practice experience at The Pennsylvania Prison Society. My practicum project has been to plan, implement, and evaluate a gender-based program targeting incarcerated women residents of a maximum security prison in Philadelphia, PA.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
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.