Is the access to healthcare services satisfactory among women prisoners? A survey from Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

<p><strong>Background and Objective: </strong>All human beings are vulnerable when deprived of their liberty, but the experience of imprisonment has a significant impact on the social, economic, spiritual, intellectual, psychological, and physical health and well-being of different categories of prisoners, particularly children, women, and older people. This study has been conducted to determine the health problems of female prisoners and their level of access to healthcare services.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> TThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A sample of 108 female prisoners was included by convenience sampling from Kot<br />Lakh Pat Jail, Lahore. Healthcare access and women’s health problems were assessed by a self-structured questionnaire. Data were coded<br />and analyzed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0. <br /><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 108 females, 78.7% were not satisfied with the health facilities. About 11.1% of the prisoners were suffering from hepatitis C and 1 prisoner was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus. Preplacement and periodical health examinations were not conducted as a routine, while stigmatization by healthcare providers was another major issue that female inmates faced during imprisonment.<br /><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Female inmates were not satisfied with the overall quality of healthcare provided to them. Poor healthcare access combined with communicable diseases adversely affects their physical and psychological well-being, leading to compromised reformation, rehabilitation, and integration back into society.</p>