Incarceration and Women's Health: The Utility of Effective Health Education Programming--A Commentary

Y

3

Institutionalized Persons; Health Education; Females; Public Health; Well Being; Comparative Analysis; Trauma; Foster Care; Children; Unemployment; Socioeconomic Status

1932-5037

The health and well-being of incarcerated women is a significant public health concern. Compared with non-incarcerated women, incarcerated women in the United States are more often from minority populations, younger (between the ages of 18 and 34 years), of low socioeconomic status, unemployed and mothers to children under 18 years of age. More than 80% of women are incarcerated for nonviolent offenses, including drug-related crimes. The incarceration of women poses an additional burden as women prisoners are more likely than male prisoners to have had sole responsibility for their children prior to incarceration. Whereas parental incarceration is difficult for children regardless of which parent is incarcerated, separation from an incarcerated mother is especially traumatic. Two-thirds of incarcerated women have children under the age of 18, and children of women offenders are more likely to be placed in foster care. This commentary explores the health of incarcerated women as well as the need for and challenges of effective health education and promotion programming for these women.

ERIC

35

2012

EJ978254