Register      Login
Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Healthcare delivery for women in prison: a medical record review

Penelope Abbott A D , Parker Magin B and Wendy Hu C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of General Practice, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.

B Discipline of General Practice, University of Newcastle, Newbolds Building, University Drive, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia.

C Medical Education Unit, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: p.abbott@westernsydney.edu.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(6) 523-529 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY15110
Submitted: 25 February 2015  Accepted: 4 November 2015   Published: 9 May 2016

Abstract

When women come into prison, many have unmet health needs. In this study we examine the health care provided to women in prison and their identified health needs, and discuss opportunities for improved healthcare delivery. We undertook a medical record review of women released from a minimum 6-week period of incarceration in New South Wales correctional centres between May 2013 and January 2014. Records from 231 periods of incarceration were reviewed. At reception, 52% of women were identified as having anxiety or depression. Hearing health was not documented despite 30% of records being of women from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, a high-risk group for whom hearing screening is recommended. Most women had multiple in-prison clinical contacts, including interactions with general and specialised nurses (97%), general practitioners (65%) and psychiatrists (35%). At release, 49% were on psychotropic medication and most required ongoing management for: mental health (71%), substance misuse (65%) and physical health (61%) problems. External specialist appointments were pending in 7% at release. Health management plans generated in prison were not always completed before release for reasons including custodial factors and waits for hospital-based appointments. Provision of effective health care in prison requires improved integration with community health services, including timely access to a wide range of health services while women are in prison, and continuity of care at release.

Additional keywords: health services, hearing, integrated care, mental health, nursing care, primary care, prisoners.


References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2012) 2011 Census counts – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/2075.0Main%20Features32011?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=2075.0&issue=2011&num=&view= [Verified 20 November 2015]

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014) Prisoners in Australia 2014. Available at www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4517.0 [Verified 6 June 2015]

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010) The health of Australia’s prisoners 2009. Cat. no. PHE 123. AIHW, Canberra.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2013) The health of Australia’s prisoners 2012. Cat. no. PHE 170. AIHW, Canberra.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2014) Cultural and linguistic diversity measures in aged care. Cat. no. AGE 74. AIHW, Canberra. Available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129548154&tab=3 [Verified 20 November 2015]

Bai JR, Mukherjee DV, Befus M, Apa Z, Lowy FD, Larson EL (2014) Concordance between medical records and interview data in correctional facilities. BMC Medical Research Methodology 14, 50
Concordance between medical records and interview data in correctional facilities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24716525PubMed |

Butler T, Allnutt S, Kariminia A, Cain D (2007) Mental health status of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australian prisoners. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 41, 429–435.
Mental health status of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australian prisoners.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17464735PubMed |

Coory M, Thompson B, Baade P, Fritschi L (2009) Utility of routine data sources for feedback on the quality of cancer care: an assessment based on clinical practice guidelines. BMC Health Services Research 9, 84
Utility of routine data sources for feedback on the quality of cancer care: an assessment based on clinical practice guidelines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19473504PubMed |

Corben S (2014) NSW inmate census 2013. Statistical Publication Number 41. Corrective Services NSW, Sydney.

Gilles M, Swingler E, Craven C, Larson A (2008) Prison health and public health responses at a regional prison in Western Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 32, 549–553.
Prison health and public health responses at a regional prison in Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19076747PubMed |

Harris F, Hek G, Condon L (2007) Health needs of prisoners in England and Wales: the implications for prison healthcare of gender, age and ethnicity. Health & Social Care in the Community 15, 56–66.

Hockings BA, Young M, Falconer A, O’Rourke PK (2002) Queensland women prisoners’ health survey. Queensland Department of Corrective Services, Brisbane.

Indig D, Topp L, Ross B, Mamoon H, Border B, Kumar S, McNamara M (2010) 2009 NSW inmate health survey: key findings report. Justice Health, Sydney.

Kariminia A, Law MG, Butler TG, Levy MH, Corben SP, Kaldor JM, Grant L (2007) Suicide risk among recently released prisoners in New South Wales, Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia 187, 387–390.

Kessler RC, Andrews G, Colpe LJ, Hiripi E, Mroczek DK, Normand SL, Walters EE, Zaslavsky AM (2002) Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological Medicine 32, 959–976.
Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD38vls1Wltg%3D%3D&md5=01f320839a22c25a8cdd4efe4666b7b6CAS | 12214795PubMed |

Kinner SA, Preen DB, Kariminia A, Butler T, Andrews JY, Stoove M, Law M (2011) Counting the cost: estimating the number of deaths among recently released prisoners in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia 195, 64–68.

Mallik-Kane K, Visher CA (2008) Health and prisoner reentry: how physical, mental, and substance abuse conditions shape the process of reintegration. The Urban Institute, Washington. Available at http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/alfresco/publication-pdfs/411617-Health-and-Prisoner-Reentry.PDFf [Verified 20 November 2015]

Miller ER, Bi P, Ryan P (2006) The prevalence of HCV antibody in South Australian prisoners. The Journal of Infection 53, 125–130.
The prevalence of HCV antibody in South Australian prisoners.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD28vit1agtA%3D%3D&md5=9c394cd689941866d3b64f6fb7f801a5CAS | 16313963PubMed |

NSW Government (2014) Health: Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network. Available at http://www.justicehealth.nsw.gov.au/ [Verified 23 September 2015]

Quinn S, Rance G (2006) Investigation into hearing impairment amongst Indigenous prisoners in the Victorian Correctional System. Available at http://assets.justice.vic.gov.au/corrections/ resources/13fe4d5a-3d2c-4865-a2ee-ef18a510a39a/investigation_hearing_impairment_indigenous_prisoners.pdf [Verified 17 November 2015]

Senate Community Affairs References Committee (2010) Hear us: inquiry into hearing health in Australia. Available at http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Completed_inquiries/2008-10/hearing_ health/report/ index [Verified 17 November 2015]

Vanderpoll T, Howard D (2011) Investigation into hearing impairment among Indigenous prisoners within the Northern Territory Correctional Services. Phoenix Consulting, Darwin.

Wai A, Pulver LK, Oliver K, Thompson A (2012) Current discharge management of acute coronary syndromes: baseline results from a national quality improvement initiative. Internal Medicine Journal 42, e53–e59.
Current discharge management of acute coronary syndromes: baseline results from a national quality improvement initiative.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC38zislWnsA%3D%3D&md5=6566392d8f03438ab180d5c7864c54abCAS | 20646093PubMed |