Health status and access to health services of female prisoners in Greece: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-reported health status of prisoners’ population and access to health services during incarceration have not been adequately explored in Greece. The purpose of this study was to assess female prisoners’ health status and access to healthcare in the Attica detention center “Korydallos”.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2014. A semi-structured questionnaire was developed, including questions on the prisoners’ socio-demographic characteristics, self-reported health status before and after incarceration, access to and quality of the provided health services. Inmates who were in solitary confinement, suffered from serious psychiatric problems, or were unable to understand the Greek language were excluded from the study. Data were collected via personal interviews and information received was anonymized. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used. The difference between self-reported general health status prior to and during detention was analyzed by Wilcoxon test, while the relationship between health status and access to healthcare was explored with coefficient Spearman's rho. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05 level and statistical analysis was performed using the software SPSS 19.ResultsOf the 135 prisoners, 101 participated in the study. 60.4 % mentioned a moderate or poor health status, while the respective percentage before detention was 32.7 %. Health status deterioration and poor mental health were reported by more than half of the respondents. Additionally, the vast majority expressed raised feelings such as sadness, anxiety or discomfort which affected negatively their everyday life while in prison. Regarding risk factors during imprisonment; tobacco consumption has increased by 16.6 % and 7.9 % of the sample admitted having used drugs. Moreover, the access to and the quality of provided health services in prison were described as poor/ very poor by 46.5 % and 49.5 %, respectively. A significant correlation between the access to and the quality of health care services and health status was observed.ConclusionHealthcare provision at the “Korydallos” prison is not satisfying since the access to as well as the quality of healthcare are not adequate. Imprisonment leads to deterioration of self-reported health status. Our findings should constitute a starting point for further research in order to introduce more effective interventions aiming at meeting prisoners’ health needs.

Female Prisoners’ Views and Satisfaction on Incarceration Conditions: Findings of a Cross-Sectional Survey in Greece

“…This study should encourage further research in the field, given that prisoner's satisfaction on detention conditions might be used as a means of introducing more effective interventions aiming at improving inmates' daily life and future after release. dissatisfied with the overall prison environment and almost 3 out of 10 and 6 out of 10 rated their current health and mental health status as poor, respectively [14]. With regards to detention conditions, the vast majority of the respondents were not satisfied with the accommodation, the provided nutrition and the cleanliness of the prisons' facilities.…”

The Impact of Incarceration on Greek Female Prisoners’ Self-reported Health Status

“…The lack of a standardized questionnaire for assessing prisoners' health status, access to and quality of health services as well as detention conditions might be a potential limitation; however, the tool developed for data collection was based on international literature review, it was tested on a convenience sample and also it has been already used in other two published studies [40,41].…”

“…Τhree studies have been carried out assessing inmates' health status only in the female prison of Attica [39][40][41].…”

“…A cross-sectional survey was conducted to both female detention centers between January 2014 and December 2015 by the University of Peloponnese which was given an entry permit by the Ministry of Justice [40,41]. The study was also approved by School of Social Sciences Ethics Committee [40,41].…”

“…Only three studies focusing on female incarceration conditions and self-reported health status have been published recently from the female prison in Attica that highlighted this issue in the country [39][40][41]. Against this background, a study focusing on the whole Greek female prison population was necessary, given that imprisonment effect prisoners' overall health status, everyday life, as well as their future after release.…”