Sexual and reproductive health of incarcerated women in French Guiana: a qualitative approach

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-05-2021-0039
• Published date: 18 November 2021
• Date: 18 November 2021
• Pages: 371-383
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Prisoner health,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice
• Author: Flore Deboscker,Mathieu Nacher,Antoine Adenis,Florence Huber,Aude Lucarelli,Laura Asensio,Marie Daniel,Vanessa Schiemsky,Timothee Bonifay

Sexual and reproductive health of

incarcerated women in French Guiana:

a qualitative approach

Flore Deboscker, Mathieu Nacher, Antoine Adenis, Florence Huber, Aude Lucarelli,

Laura Asensio, Marie Daniel, Vanessa Schiemsky and Timothee Bonifay

Abstract

Purpose –Incarcerated womenare a vulnerable population in terms of sexualand reproductive health.

In French Guiana, most incarcerated women come from unsafe environments and are incarcerated

because of drug trafficking.Medical follow-up processes used in prison (medicalassessment on arrival,

and then two half-days per week upon requestbut without an obstetrician-gynecologist) does not allow

for a thoroughassessment of the impact of incarcerationon women prisoners’ health to take place. In the

absence of data,the purpose of this study was to describe incarceratedwomen’s experiences in relation

to sexual and reproductivehealth.

Design/methodology/approach –Semi-structured interviews were conducted among French-

speaking adult women whohad been incarcerated for at least four months in a French Guiananprison.

Menstruation, contraception, pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted infections and sexuality were

describedby means of interpretative phenomenologicalanalysis.

Findings –A total of 14 women were interviewed.They suffered from menstrual cycle disorders, poor

hygiene and menstrual insecurity. They appeared to have emotionally disinvested sexuality. However,

intra-prisonsexual activity existed for some (masturbation,conjugal prison visits,homosexual intercourse

between fellow prisoners).Homosexual relations were a source of discrimination. Beingpregnant while

incarceratedwas viewed negatively. A lack of knowledge aboutsexual and reproductive health and high-

risk behaviorssuch as piercing and tattooing practiceswere widespread.

Originality/value –Incarceration is a vulnerable time for women’s sexual and reproductive health.

Sexual activity exposes women to risks and discrimination that should be taken into account in a

multidisciplinaryapproach adapted to theprison environment.

Keywords Women-s health,Health in prison, Health promotion,Women prisoners, Qualitativeresearch,

Sexualhealth, Reproductive health,Women, Prison, Jail

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

In 2017, 714,000 women were incarcerated worldwide. Since 2000, the numberof women in

prison has increased by 50% –compared to a 20% increase for men (Walmsley, 2017).

Many of these women prisoners are young, sexually active and have children. The few

studies on women’s health in prison describe a fairly typical profile (Van Den Bergh et al.,

2013): they often have a history of violence –three times more than men –leading to

psychiatric disorders, such as addiction, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and

suicidal risk.

Sexual health –which covers issues of sexuality, maternity, contraception, sexually

transmitted infection (STI) screening, abortion, pleasure, fight against discrimination and

violence, sexual dysfunction and genital mutilation –falls under the definition of “global

Flore Deboscker is based

at the UCSA, Centre

Hospitalier de Cayenne,

Cayenne, French Guiana

and DUMG, Universite

´

Antilles-Guyane, Pointe-a

`-

Pitre, Guadeloupe.

Mathieu Nacher and

Antoine Adenis are both

based at the CIC, Centre

Hospitalier de Cayenne,

Cayenne, French Guiana.

Florence Huber is based at

the Croix-Rouge Franc¸aise,

Cayenne, French Guiana.

Aude Lucarelli is based at

the HDJ, Centre Hospitalier

de Cayenne, Cayenne,

French Guiana.

Laura Asensio is based at

the UFPI, Centre Hospitalier

de Cayenne, Cayenne,

FrenchGuiana. Marie Daniel,

Vanessa Schiemsky and

Timothee Bonifay are all

based at the UCSA, Centre

Hospitalier de Cayenne,

Cayenne, French Guiana.

Received 10 May 2021

Revised 6 September 2021

27 September 2021

3 October 2021

Accepted 4 October 2021

DOI 10.1108/IJPH-05-2021-0039 VOL. 18 NO. 4 2022, pp. 371-383, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1744-9200 jINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PRISONER HEALTH jPAGE 371