Abstract

ALVES, Joana  and  MAIA, Ângela Costa. Self-Reports of Health before and during. Imprisonment in Female Inmates. Port J Public Health [online]. 2017, vol.35, n.2, pp.132-140. ISSN 2504-3137.  https://doi.org/10.1159/000481967.

The health of female inmates has been described as more vulnerable than that of detained male and the overall female population. The purpose of this study is to describe health behaviors, history of diseases, health complaints, and health status of 232 incarcerated women. The women reported risk behaviors and unexpected health surveillance before their imprisonment. In prison, their tobacco use increased, drug consumption decreased and high rates of diseases, use of medicines, health complaints, and poor health status were found. The women's perceptions of their current health, compared with the time period before prison, revealed different types of impact, with one-third reporting health improvements. These data suggest that women prisoners' health and the prison's impact on their health must be better studied in order to enhance the health intervention programs during imprisonment

Keywords : Female inmates; Risk behaviors; Health surveillance; Health complaints; Health status.

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