Physical health programs and interventions with women during incarceration: a scoping review

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-06-2021-0055
• Published date: 27 September 2021
• Date: 27 September 2021
• Pages: 285-299
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Prisoner health,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice
• Author: Amanda Emerson,Ashlyn Lipnicky,Bernard Schuster,Patricia J. Kelly

Physical health programs and

interventions with women during

incarceration: a scoping review

Amanda Emerson, Ashlyn Lipnicky, Bernard Schuster and Patricia J. Kelly

Abstract

Purpose –The USA outpaces most other countries in the world in the rates at which it incarcerates its

citizens. The one millionwomen held in US jails and prisons on any day in the USA face manyphysical

health challenges, yet interventional work to address physical health in carceral settings is rare. This

study’spurpose was to summarize the literature on programsand interventions implementedwith women

in US carceralsettings (jail or prison) that primarily addresseda physical health issue or need.

Design/methodology/approach –A scoping review was conducted.The authors searched databases,

referencelists, individual journals and websites for physicalhealth program descriptions/evaluationsand

researchstudies, 2000–2020, that included womenand were set in the USA.

Findings –The authors identified 19 articles and a range of problem areas, designs, settings and

samples, interventions/programs, outcomesand uses of theory. The authors identified two cross-cutting

themes:the carceral setting as opportunity andchallenges of ethics and logistics.

Research limitations/implications –Much potential remains for researchers to have an impact on

healthdisparities by addressing physical healthneeds of women during incarceration.

Originality/value –Interventional and programmatic work to address physical health needs of women

during incarcerationis sparse and diversely focused.This review uniquely summarizes the existingwork

in a small and overlookedbut important area of research and usefullyhighlights gaps in that literature.

Keywords Prisons, Review, Women’s health, The USA, Vulnerable populations, Jails

Paper type Literature review

Abbreviations

AIDS = acquired immunodeficiencysyndrome;

BA = before-and-after study;

BMI = body mass index;

CC = control study;

CV = cardiovascular;

HCV = hepatitis C virus;

HIV = human immunodeficiency virus;

LARC = long-acting reversable contraception;

LTBI = latent tuberculosis infection;

MRSA = methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus;

Q-RCT = quasi randomized control trial;

RCT = randomized control trial;

STD =sexually transmitted disease;

TB = tuberculosis;

US = United States; and

XS = cross-section study.

Amanda Emerson is based

at the School of Nursing and

Health Studies, Universityof

Missouri-Kansas City,

Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Ashlyn Lipnicky is based at

the School of Medicine,

University of Kansas

Medical Center, Kansas

City, Kansas, USA.

Bernard Schuster is based

at the Department of

Population Health,

University of Kansas

Medical Center, Kansas

City, Kansas, USA.

Patricia J. Kelly is based at

the College of Nursing,

Thomas Jefferson

University, Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, USA.

Received 21 June 2021

Revised 18 August 2021

Accepted 18 August 2021

The authors gratefully

acknowledge the contributions

of Marie Thompson, Teaching

and Learning Librarian at the

Health Sciences Library at the

University of Missouri-Kansas

City, with whom they consulted

in organizing our database

searches and Hillary Phillips,

who assisted with those

searches.

DOI 10.1108/IJPH-06-2021-0055 VOL. 18 NO. 3 2022,pp. 285-299, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1744-9200 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRISONER HEALTH jPAGE 285