Prevalence and correlates of low self-reported physical health status among prisoners in New South Wales, Australia

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-06-2018-0039
• Date: 10 June 2019
• Pages: 192-206
• Published date: 10 June 2019
• Author: Joanne Ross,Courtney Field,Sharlene Kaye,Julia Bowman
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Prisoner health,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice

Prevalence and correlates of low

self-reported physical health status among

prisoners in New South Wales, Australia

Joanne Ross, Courtney Field, Sharlene Kaye and Julia Bowman

Abstract

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence and predictors of low self-reported

physical health status among NSW prison inmates.

Design/methodology/approach –Cross-sectional random sample of 1,098 adult male and female prisoners,

interviewed as part of the 2015 Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network Patient Health Survey.

Findings –Almost a quarter of participants had “low self-reported physical health status”. Independent

predictors of “low health status”were having been in out of home care before the age of 16 years, being

illiterate, smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day, not eating more than one serve of fruit a day, not being

physically active in the 12 months before incarceration, higher body mass index score and low self-reported

mental health status. Many of these predictors are modifiable risk factors for chronic disease, which could be

targeted during incarceration.

Originality/value –This paper demonstrates the utility of a using a single item measure of self-reported

physical health status among Australian prisoners, and helps to characterise those prisoners in greatest need

of intervention for issues relating to their health.

Keywords Health in prison, Prisoners, Prison, Physical health status, Prisoner health

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

It is commonly reported that the health of prisoners worldwide is poorer than that of the general

population (Binswanger et al., 2012; Butler et al., 2004; Kinner et al., 2012; Massoglia and

Pridemore, 2015; Nobile et al., 2011; Ross et al., 2011; Stewart et al., 2014). Among prisoners,

there is generally an overrepresentation of socially disadvantaged minority groups, who also

experience poorer health and less frequent access to healthcare in the community than the

broader population (Binswanger et al., 2012). Indigenous Australians, for example, constitute

just 2.8 per cent of the Australian population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016), but account

for over a quarter of the prison population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2017).

While incarceration may represent a window of opportunity for addressing some of the unmet

healthcare needs, a better understanding is required of the nature and correlates of poor physical

health status among prisoners to help target those most in need.

The social circumstances in which we grow, live and age have become increasingly recognised

as the social determinants of physical health and include factors, such as, income, education,

employment and social support (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2016). Prisoners are

widely acknowledged as having high levels of unemployment, poverty, family breakdown, and

drug use and low levels of educational attainment and literacy, all of which have been associated

with poorer physical health and well-being (Massoglia and Pridemore, 2015; Friestad, 2010).

It is perhaps unsurprising then that epidemiological studies have indicated that prison inmates

experience a greater burden of disease from chronic health conditions, such as hypertension,

Received 25 June 2018

Revised 10 September 2018

30 September 2018

Accepted 5 October 2018

Joanne Ross is based at

Research Unit, Justice Health

and Forensic Mental Health

Network, Malabar, Australia

and National Drug and

Alcohol Research Centre,

University of New South Wales,

Sydney, Australia.

Courtney Field is based at

Research Unit, Justice Health

and Forensic Mental Health

Network, Matraville, Australia.

Sharlene Kaye is based at

Research Unit, Justice Health

and Forensic Mental Health

Network, Matraville, Australia

and National Drug and

Alcohol Research Centre,

University of New South Wales,

Sydney, Australia.

Julia Bowman is based at

Research Unit, Justice Health

and Forensic Mental Health

Network, Matraville, Australia

and Faculty of Health,

University of Technology

Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

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INTERNATIONALJOURNAL OF PRISONER HEALTH

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VOL. 15 NO. 2 2019, pp. 192-206, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1744-9200 DOI 10.1108/IJPH-06-2018-0039