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An introduction is presented in which editor discusses various articles within the issue on topics including historical emergence of prison medical provisions, transportation of female prisoners and medical need of older women inmates.

The article discusses clinical aspects of health of women in solitary confinement. It states that a high percentage of those in solitary confinement face mental health problems, and mentions that mental health clinicians charged with providing care to these women confront a serious ethical dilemma between being part of an inhumane system, and witnessing human suffering. It notes that clinicians should initially focus on assessing and beginning treatment of any pre‐existing mental illness .

Copyright of Revista Brasileira em Promoção da Saúde is the property of Revista Brasileira em Promocao da Saude and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Much of the literature on women prisoners’ inadequate access to healthcare has focused on the relative rarity of women in prison before the age of mass incarceration. This may explain why prisons initially were poorly equipped to provide healthcare to women, but the gendered nature of Eighth Amendment jurisprudence has allowed prisons to remain so. This Note argues the Supreme Court’s standard for prisoners’ claims of inadequate medical care under the Eighth Amendment denies women equal access to justice in the wake of inadequate reproductive healthcare. By implicitly requiring that women prisoners compare their medical needs to those of men, the current standard for evaluating prisoners’ claims of inadequate medical care, though gender-neutral on its face, creates barriers for women that do not exist for men. In the context of reproductive healthcare, this requirement presents an often-insurmountable obstacle for women prisoners seeking justice under the Eighth Amendment. On March 30, 2004, Michelle Lea Martinez was newly pregnant and in jail in Palm Beach, Florida, on cocaine charges. After experiencing vaginal bleeding, which can be a sign of miscarriage, she requested to visit the medical unit. The jail staff refused because Martinez had not put her name on a list to see the nurse who treated pregnant prisoners. “I was scared,” said Martinez in a later newspaper interview.1 “So I just grabbed the door and I slammed my thumb. I didn’t know what was wrong with me or my baby.” Within ten minutes Martinez received care for her thumb and vaginal bleeding. Martinez knew instinctively what was required to receive adequate healthcare as a female prisoner—an injury that looked like one a man could sustain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article was to conduct a review of experimental, quasi-experimental, and pre-test/post-test studies using manualized, trauma-informed interventions with incarcerated women. A systematic search of electronic databases, reference harvesting, and communication with experts were used to identify relevant primary studies. Nine studies meeting the specified inclusion/exclusion criteria were identified. Three studies used random assignment and five used a comparison or waitlist group. Interventions identified included Seeking Safety, Helping Women Recover/Beyond Trauma, Esuba, and Beyond Violence. Results of the studies indicate a decrease in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and an additive effect to treatment as usual. Initial evidence for trauma-informed interventions for incarcerated women appears positive; however, replication using more rigorous research designs and inclusion of effect sizes are recommended. Limitations of this review include exclusion of the gray literature and lack of meta-analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Working with women in secure services is an infrequent subject of research and discussion in the forensic mental health literature. There are several reasons for this, which will be considered in the introduction to this paper. However, a consequence of this situation is that there remains a lack of clarity in key areas of practice in relation to working with women in secure services, and working with women with personality disorder specifically: how women with personality disorder may present in secure services compared to men, therefore, the particular skills required of the practitioners who work with women and the main design features of the services within which they are managed. The body of this paper attempts to summarise important issues in each of these areas in order to inform future debate and developments in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Concern about the approach to the care of women in secure hospitals led to radical Department of Health Guidance in 2002 and 2003. This paper explores the views and experience of senior clinicians and managers involved in delivering care through semi-structured interviews. The gendered nature of the therapeutic challenge and the complexity of the women in their care are both articulated as well as the extent to which respondents see themselves as having addressed clinical practice guidance. Service delivery is substantially informed by the ideas of relational security, attachment theory and the recovery model. Traditional concepts of security were considered unhelpful in the care of women. Reliance on respondents’ views as to the quality of care offered must remain limited in view of the continuing absence of corresponding clinical outcome data. However, their responses should inform amendments to current service organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

London’s oldest women’s prison is to close in 2016. The unexpected speed of the UK Government’s closure plans and the lack of alternatives for London women are a cause for concern but also an opportunity. Ironically, this announcement came at a time when both the prison and its health care were evaluated as better than ever before. Staff constitute a vital source of knowledge and expertise. Good care for women who offend relies on these ingredients. Learning from the last decade should be salvaged and further developed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Psychologically informed planned environments (PIPEs) are specifically designed environments where staff members have additional training to increase their psychological understanding of their work. This understanding enables them to create a safe and supportive environment which can help facilitate the development and improvement of those who live there. They aim to maximise ordinary situations in order to support development and to approach this in a psychologically informed way, and by paying particular attention to issues relating to personality disorder. Since PIPEs have been introduced into the Criminal Justice System in 2011, significant improvements in institutional behaviour have been observed. This paper considers the development of the therapeutic environment of a PIPE Unit and in particular its translation for women in custody. Reflecting upon narratives taken from focus groups within a female PIPE Unit in England, it will theorise why, for many women, the environment plays a significant part in their recovery and progression in prison. Although this paper focuses on a PIPE environment, it is suggested that observations can also be transferred to other forensic environments, including therapeutic communities, enabling environments, treatment services, hospital wards, normal wing locations and so forth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Research has consistently shown that incarcerated women experience mental illness at disproportionate rates and heavily use psychiatric medication. This study examined factors related to incarcerated women's experiences and beliefs about psychotropic medications.Methods: The researchers conducted a survey with 274 women incarcerated at a medium-security correctional institution in a Mid-Atlantic state. A 35-item questionnaire was created that solicited data on, among other things, experiences with and perceptions of psychotropic medication use and locus of control.Results: Over three-quarters of participants (77%) reported currently taking psychotropic medication, and antidepressants were most common (93%). Of those taking psychotropic medication, more than half (51%) took more than one type. Univariate analyses indicated strong endorsement of questionnaire items related to positive effects of medication and personal agency in decision making about medication use. Current medication use predicted perceptions of more positive therapeutic effects (p<.001) and higher impact of medication on life (p<.001). External locus of control predicted four aspects of experience with psychotropic medication, including a decreased perception of personal agency regarding medication use (p=.038) and a greater likelihood of experiencing stigma related to medication use (p<.01).Conclusions: Psychotropic medication use during incarceration is a complex phenomenon that is related not only to perceived therapeutic effects of medication but also to issues of impact, personal agency, locus of control, stigma, and perceived biological vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Incarcerated women around the globe are predominantly of reproductive age. Most of these women have been pregnant before, and many want to be sexually active and avoid pregnancy upon release. Yet few of these women are on a regular method of contraception. Providing contraceptive services for women in custody benefits individual and public health goals of reducing unintended pregnancy. This policy briefing reviews evidence for an unmet need for family planning in the correctional setting, and policy implications for expanding services. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The authors describe four model programs in the USA with established contraceptive services on site, highlighting practical steps other facilities can implement. Findings Correctional facilities health administrators, providers, advocates, and legislators should advance policies which should counsel women on family planning and should make a range of contraceptive methods available before release, while remaining sensitive to the potential pressure these women may feel to use birth control in this unique environment. Practical implications Family planning services for incarcerated women benefits individuals, facilities, and the community. Social implications Policies which enable correctional facilities to provide comprehensive family planning to incarcerated women - including reproductive life goals counseling and contraceptive method provision - promote equity in access to critical reproductive health services and also provide broad scale population level benefits in preventing unintended pregnancy or enabling counseling for healthy pregnancies for a group of women who often have limited access to such services. Originality/value This policy briefing highlights an area of health care in prisons and jails which gets little attention in research and in policy circles: family planning services for incarcerated women. In addition to reviewing the importance of such services for this population, the authors also highlight model family planning programs in correctional facilities. These provide actionable insights for other administrators and providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high vulnerability of incarcerated women is worsened when they are pregnant and give birth during imprisonment. This article traces the profile of incarcerated women living with their children in female prison units of the capitals and metropolitan regions of Brazil and describes pregnancy and childbirth conditions and healthcare practices while in incarceration. This study is an analysis of a series of cases resultant from a national census conducted between August 2012 and January 2014. This analysis included 241 mothers. Of these, 45% were younger than 25 years old, 57% were dark skinned, 53% had studied less than eight years and 83% were multiparous. At the time of incarceration, 89% were already pregnant and two thirds did not want the current pregnancy. Access to prenatal care was inadequate for 36% of the women. During their hospital stay, 15% referred to having suffered some type of violence (verbal, psychological, or physical). Only 15% of the mothers rated the care received during their hospital stay as excellent. They had low social/ familial support and more than one third reported the use of handcuffs during their hospital stay. Incarcerated mothers received poorer healthcare during pregnancy and birth when compared with non-incarcerated users of the public sector. This study also found violations of human rights, especially during birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of incarceration for women has risen dramatically in the past three decades. Many incarcerated women are pregnant upon incarceration and give birth in prison. Prison nurseries allow women to remain with their newborn babies within the prison for a specified span of time. Evidence suggests such programs increase mother–child attachment, improve parenting efficacy, and reduce participant recidivism. Through interviews with 27 formerly incarcerated women who gave birth while in prison, the present study compares the birth experiences of women participating in a prison nursery program and a group of women giving birth prior to implementation of the program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes life in a drug-treatment wing (a prison therapeutic community) in a Swedish women's prison, and aims to analyse prisoners' and prison officers' relations and identities, through observation field notes and interviews with staff and prisoners. The studied prison has a drug-treatment programme based on Twelve Step Facilitation Therapy, with external therapists. Within the treatment wing, prison officers are abandoning the traditional staff identity for one of 'co-therapist'. The female prisoner-identity is initially that of the 'traditional prisoner', but is often replaced by other situational identities such as the 'conscious addict' and the 'good group-member'. In cases of frustration and threats in the wing, the more traditional identities might temporarily be 're-activated'. This might be a source of confusion and inner conflict, especially for the prisoners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore incarcerated women's awareness, beliefs, and experiences with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and vaccination. Design/methodology/approach -- Researchers conducted focus groups with 45 incarcerated women in an urban Midwestern US jail to assess how women talked about their Papanicolaou (Pap) test screening and abnormal Pap test follow-up experiences. Some focus group questions specifically assessed individual awareness, beliefs, and experiences with HPV infection and vaccination. Based on these data, the authors described participants' awareness of HPV, as well as used open coding to ultimately extract themes related to beliefs and experiences with HPV infection and vaccine. Findings -- While all 45 participants reported experiencing an abnormal Pap test event within the last five years, only two-thirds of participants (n¼30) reported having heard of the HPV infection. Several themes emerged from the analysis of the data: the women's beliefs about cause and severity of HPV; frustration with age requirements of the vaccine; varied experiences with vaccinations for themselves and their children; the impact of media exposure on knowledge; and desire for more HPV infection and vaccine information. Originality/value -- Incarcerated women's awareness and limited experiences with HPV infection and vaccination may be a barrier to adequate screening and cervical cancer prevention. This study has implications for the development of cervical health education for this high-risk group of women, who are four to five times as likely to have cervical cancer as non-incarcerated women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: This article examines the specific experiences of women in prison, focusing on previous (and continuing) physical and mental abuse, the consequent health care requirements of women prisoners, the policy response and the availability of suitable health care in prisons across the EU. It draws from an extensive review of the literature on women prisoners across Europe that was part of an on-going European Project funded by the DAPHNE programme of the European Commission, entitled ‘DAPHNE Strong’. It also uses the field research from the project collected via surveys and in-depth interviews with key personnel in organisations that work with women prisoners or ex-prisoners and staff with a strategic overview of activity from the ministries of justice, police, prison service and women's support organisations. There are probably many more women prisoners with a history of domestic abuse than is officially recognised. Many of the women prison population who have experienced violence and abuse mask this by problematic drug or alcohol use as well as self-injury. These are key areas that training for prison staff needs to address. The availability of services for this group of women is inconsistent within and between countries of the EU. The political will to address the situation of women in prison, as distinct from the norms applied to men, is variable and it seems to take the determined efforts of active lobby groups to make inroads into an area of latent inertia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on gender disparity in prisons, correctional facilities, and in prisoners awaiting execution in the U.S. in 2013. Topics include the issue of rape in prison, the sexual abuse of female prisoners by correctional staff, and the reproductive rights of incarcerated women. Information is provided on the rights and services for transgender prisoners.

Several recent collaborations between correctional facilities and community health organizations and community education organizations have enabled incarcerated women to access health and education programs that are also available in the community. In addition, health educational programs initiated by incarcerated women themselves illustrate that incarceration provides opportunities to engage hard-to-reach women in health and educational community-based programs with potential long-term healing benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shackling of pregnant prisoners during labor and childbirth is endemic within women's penal institutions in the United States. This Article investigates the factors that account for the pervasiveness of this practice and suggests doctrinal innovations that may be leveraged to prevent its continuation. At a general level, this Article asserts that we cannot understand the persistence of the shackling of female prisoners without understanding how historical constructions of race and gender operate structurally to both motivate and mask its use. More specifically, this Article contends that while shackling affects female prisoners of all races today, the persistent practice attaches to Black women in particular through the historical devaluation, regulation, and punishment of their exercise of reproductive capacity in three contexts: slavery, convict leasing, and chain gangs in the South. The regulation and punishment of Black women within these oppressive systems reinforced and reproduced stereotypes of these women as deviant and dangerous. In turn, as Southern penal practices proliferated in the United States and Black women became a significant percentage of the female prison population, these images began to animate harsh practices against all female prisoners. Moreover, this Article asserts that current jurisprudence concerning the Eighth Amendment, the primary constitutional vehicle for challenging conditions of confinement, such as shackling, is insufficient to combat racialized practices at the structural level. Current doctrine focuses on the subjective intentions of prison officials at the individual level and omits any consideration of how race underlies institutional practices. Instead, this Article suggests an expanded reading of the Eighth Amendment and the "evolving standards of decency" language that undergirds the "cruel and unusual punishments" clause. Specifically, this Article argues that evolving standards of decency should be guided by other constitutional provisions, such as the Thirteenth Amendment. This expanded reading, which this Article refers to as the "antisubordination approach," draws upon Justice Harlan's oft-cited dissent in Plessy v. Ferguson and his underappreciated reading of the Thirteenth Amendment therein. Under such a reading, conditions of confinement that result from or are related to repudiated mechanisms of racial domination should be deemed "cruel and unusual punishments." By challenging race and gender subordination at the structural level, this Article suggests that we can move from an aspiration to the actualization of humane justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MOMS Plus is a public health case management program offered to substance abusing pregnant women, including those incarcerated in jail. Improved pregnancy outcomes, substance abuse treatment, and diminished recidivism are the goals of service delivery. The program encourages prenatal care and substance abuse treatment and reduces Child Protective Services involvement for women enrolled. Elements of the program may be adopted by other correctional programs to improve outcomes for pregnant inmates and improve their capacity to complete substance abuse treatment and to parent. Unique elements of the service model are discussed. Recommendations are made for including program elements in jail release planning, as well as possibilities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a conference of patients and doctors on the subject of perinatal care for incarcerated patients in the U.S. According to doctor Tom Delbanco, a 25-year-old unmarried woman received a one-year jail sentence during the second trimester of her pregnancy. Due to neonatal abstinence syndrome, her female newborn was given supportive morphine and phenobarbital-supplemented care for several weeks. She was offered family planning services following paroled release to a residential parenting program. Particular focus is given to the incarceration rate of the U.S. correctional system, along with the racial distribution of incarcerated women in the country. Also included are information on intrapartum care and the challenge posed by security-driven use of restraints during labor.

The article explores the manners in which the U.S. state and federal law perceives that women prisoners are not suited to become mothers. It presents background information about the government's involvement in restricting the right to pregnancy in prisons. It examines the legal obligations of the country regarding the rights of individuals and of its failure to meet the said obligations. It also looks into the challenge of the international human rights law to women's rights abuses.

The article examines the perception of prisons as barriers to abortion care and medical care for pregnancy and how prison employees and policies impede access to such care in the U.S. It explores the judicial interpretations regarding women's claims to care related to pregnancy as a serious medical importance. It also looks into the impact of the violations of women's rights to reproductive decision-making and medical care within the prison system on the prospects for social justice.

The author discusses the launch of the Birth Charter by the charitable organization Birth Companions in May 2016 and how this initiative will help pregnant women and staff in prisons in England and Wales. The author provides information on the prisons' mother-and-baby units (MBUs), lists several recommendations for expectant mothers including during pregnancy and childbirth, and includes position statements by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

Self-harm rates amongst the UK female prison population are disproportionately high. Prison staff potentially have a crucial role in the identification and management of female prisoners at risk; despite this there has been little focus on the attitudes of prison staff towards female prisoners who self-harm. This paper presents such an explanation; qualitative methods were used, with semi-structured interviews with eight prison officers and five healthcare staff from one female prison in the North of England. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed iteratively, until category saturation was achieved. The data suggests that prison staff labelled self-harm as either 'genuine' or 'non-genuine.' Women whose self-harm was perceived as non-genuine by staff were viewed as 'rational manipulators,' self-harming to achieve particular ends. Staff described feelings of resentment towards these women. Most staff reported that balancing their welfare and security functions was difficult, feeling most confident with their custody role. They described feeling untrained and unsupported in their welfare role, and pressurised due to time constraints and reported low staffing levels. This combination of factors left most staff reporting lack of confidence in dealing with women who self-harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that evaluates the mental health status and service for women prisoners in the U.S. It cites the alarming growth of women prisoners by 4.8% increase compare to 2.7% for men. It remarks that women prisoners have high prevalence of chronic mental and physical health problems, limited access to health care and high rates of infection. It cites that women who have mental health illness in jails experience several adverse consequences including inability to follow rules, increased infractions and disciplinary problems, and self mutilation. The participants of the study has remarked that women with mental health problems do not receive the needed service, remained untreated and lived in the general population.

Background The development of primary care services within prisons has been central to improvements in the provision of health care in this setting over the past decade. Despite national imperatives to involve patients in the development of services and numerous policy initiatives, there has been no systematic evaluation of changes in the delivery of primary care and little published evidence of consultation with prisoners. Aim To explore women prisoners' experiences of primary healthcare provision in prison. Design of study Qualitative study using focus groups and interviews. Setting Two women's prisons in southern England. Method Six focus groups involving 37 women were conducted, as well as 12 semi-structured individual interviews. Focus groups and interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. Results Women prisoners' perceptions of the quality of prison health care were mixed. There were accounts of good-quality care where practitioners were regarded as knowledgeable and respectful, but many perceived that the quality of care was poor. They complained about difficulties accessing care or medication, disrespectful treatment, and breaches of confidentiality by practitioners. They voiced the belief that staff were less qualified and competent than their counterparts in the community. Conclusion The prison environment presents unique challenges to those providing health care, and much work has been done recently on modernising prison health care and improving professional standards of practice. However, the accounts of women prisoners in this study suggest that there is a gap between patient experience and policy aspirations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need to have healthcare among the incarcerated women in the U.S. It cites the limited access of women to healthcare before, during, and after their imprisonment. It presents a broad study of the typical characteristics of women offenders. It talks about health issues specific to women offenders. An overview of the explanation of the need for gender-responsive healthcare which improves public health and safety is provided.

This paper focuses on prison as a place in which the prisoner seeks health and health services. Drawing on the work of Henri LeFebvre, Edward Casey, Jeffrey Malpas, and Michel Foucault, a spatial analysis examines the constitutive roles of movement, social structure, and power in determining the prisoner''s access to health care. The research methodology utilizes quantitative and qualitative analysis of women prisoners’ attempts to get treatment for their health problems. The narratives of these often-failed attempts construct prison as a place where health care access is continually thwarted by rules, custodial priorities, poor health care management, incompetence, and indifference. Analysis of spatial practices, representations of space, and spaces of representation demonstrate the imposition of structural ordering, its naturalization, and the role of narrative in questioning the order, thereby creating possibilities for imaginary and real places where the prisoners’ health needs can be met. Simultaneously, this analysis illuminates basic ethical questions about the limitations of human connection and medical caring in prison settings, regardless of the personal motivation of the caregiver. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Takes a look at health delivery systems in three women's prisons in Ohio. Structure of health care delivery system in women's prisons; Medical staff's perception of the structure; Differences in health care delivery; Shortage of both financial and human resources.

Fifteen female inmates' perceptions of medical care and the manner in which treatment is provided are explored through individual interviews in a state prison. The women did not hold exclusively negative or positive views about the care and treatment they received; however, the predominant view was negative. Examples of inadequate medical care are described by 14 of the 15 women. Nonempathetic treatment, such as being treated as if undeserving of care, is described by all 15. Examples of adequate medical care and empathetic treatment are offered as well, and the overlap between positive and negative perceptions of care is explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses quality of women's healthcare in prisons in Australia as of August 2021. Other topics include the health challenges facing female prisoners like mental health issues, risk of communicable diseases and alcohol abuse, the study by Doctor Marisa Gilles on prisoner health, and the importance of good quality perinatal care to pregnant women prisoners.

Presents information on a study which highlights the need for correctional policy to address health education and self-efficacy training among female prisoners with histories of psychological impairments and HIV-related behaviors. Methods; Results; Discussion and conclusions.

Illustrates critical issues about incarcerated women in several maximum security prisons in America with emphasis on their grave unmet health care needs. Special health problems and needs of incarcerated women; Brief overview on the barriers to effective health care; Actions taken to overcome barriers; Conclusion.

The article focuses on the health needs of imprisoned women in Hawaii. It includes several tables that show the headcount of female inmates, the number, proportion, and profile of imprisoned women, and the offenses of imprisoned populations. The small population of women in jails and prisons challenges the management of prisons because the needs of women differ from male inmates. The health needs of imprisoned women can be met by integrating programs concerning several health services. Such programs must focus on substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, mental health, pregnancy, preventive health, reproductive health and postpartum care.

The article describes a project at the Eastwood Park female prison in the Bristol North Academy area, in Bristol, England, in which a Learning Centre consisting of two conference rooms was established for the purpose of providing health care to the prison and the surrounding community. The project is intended to focus on education and training for mental health issues, sexual health, domestic violence, and other important health care needs. The project was launched in spring 2007 and is currently used for interprofessional and interorganizational meetings.

An introduction is presented in which the editors discuss various articles within the issue on topics including the manners in which the U.S. law violates the right to pregnancy in prison, the impact of misogyny and homophobia in prison abuse, and the significance of social feminist movement.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Efficacy of an Adapted HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Intervention for Incarcerated Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial" by Catherine I. Fogel and colleagues in the April 2015 issue.