Objective
This study examined a primary care-based program to address the health needs of women recently released from incarceration by facilitating access to primary medical, mental health, and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
Study design
Peer community health workers recruited women released from incarceration within the past 9 months into the Women’s Initiative Supporting Health Transitions Clinic (WISH-TC). Located within an urban academic medical center, WISH-TC uses cultural, gender, and trauma-specific strategies grounded in the Self-Determination Theory of motivation. Data abstracted from intake forms and medical charts were examined using bivariate and multivariable regression analyses.
Results
Of the 200 women recruited, 100 attended the program at least once. Most (83.0%) did not have a primary care provider prior to enrollment. Conditions more prevalent than in the general population included psychiatric disorders (94.0%), substance use (90.0%), intimate partner violence (66.0%), chronic pain (66.0%), and Hepatitis C (12.0%). Patients received screening and vaccinations (65.9 – 87.0%), mental health treatment (91.5%), and SUD treatment (64.0%). Logistic regression revealed that receipt of mental health treatment was associated with number of psychiatric (AOR=4.09, p<.01), and social/behavioral problems (AOR=2.67, p=.04), and higher median income (AOR=1.07, p=.05); African American race predicted lower receipt of SUD treatment (AOR=0.08, p<.01).
Conclusion
An innovative primary care transitions program successfully helped women recently released from incarceration receive medical, mental health, and SUD treatment. Primary care settings with specialty programs, including community health workers, may provide a venue to screen, assess, and help recently incarcerated women access needed care.