The Impact of Incarceration on Greek Female Prisoners’ Self-reported Health Status

Abstract

Objective: Studies attempting to investigate issues around detainees' health status is limited in Greece and it is mainly focusing on specific prisons. The scope of this research was to investigate the impact of incarceration on health status of the Greek female prisoners' population. Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted to both female correctional institutions existing in Greece during the years 2014 and 2015. A semi-structured questionnaire was given to incarcerated women who voluntarily accepted to take part. Data were collected via personal interviews and were anonymized. Statistical analysis was performed through descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and multiple regression analysis with the use of SPSS 20.Results: Out of 524 female prisoners, 397 met the inclusion criteria and participated in the study. 66.3% reported a moderate or poor health status, while the respective rate before detainment was 23.4%. Health status deterioration and poor mental health were referred by more than half of the participants. The access to health services and the quality of provided healthcare during imprisonment were considered as poor/very poor by 44.8% and 46.1% respectively. Almost half of the respondents expressed their dissatisfaction with the accommodation, the cleanliness, the nutrition as well as with the overall prison environment. Furthermore, the access to health services, the quality of provided healthcare and the experienced detention conditions affect female prisoners' self-reported general and mental health status. Conclusion:Female imprisonment impacts negatively prisoners' self-reported health status. Our findings give a cue for additional explore with the specific end goal to meet the health needs of this vulnerable population as well as to improve everyday life in prison and life after release.

Impact of exercise intervention on anxiety levels and mood profile of Greek prison inmates

“…Despite their prominence in correctional environments around the world, exercise and physical activity are understudied areas of prison life, especially in Greece. Researchers in Greek prison settings focused on health conditions (Athanasopoulou 2016), detention facilities (Geitona & Milioni, 2016), mental status (Dandoulaki, Kosteri, & Milaki, 2008) and self-reported quality of life (Milioni & Geitona, 2017). These researches represent an initial attempt to examine the role of Greek providing prisons not only as detention facilities but also as rehabilitation institutions comprehensive and effective services and interventions so as to promote promoting well-being, social inclusion and care for people with mental health problems in accordance with WHO guide to Health in Prisons and Trenčín statement (2008) on prisons and mental health.…”

The effect of exercise on improving quality of life and self-esteem of inmates in Greek prisons

“…In Greece all studies evaluated health conditions (Athanasopoulou 2016), detention facilities (Geitona & Milioni, 2016a), mental status (Dandoulaki, Kosteri, & Milaki, 2008) and self-reported quality of life (Milioni & Geitona, 2017) and focused solely on presenting an overall picture of physical and psychological status of prisoners in Greek correctional institutions, with no interventions included in their research design. Geitona & Milioni (2016b) examined health status deterioration and mental health among men prisoners and noted raised levels of sadness, anxiety and discomfort.…”

Η Υγεία Και Η Φροντίδα Υγείας Φυλακισμένων Γυναικών Στην Ελλάδα

“…Θ οικογζνεια αποτελεί τον κφριο λόγο ανθςυχίασ των κρατουμζνων. Θ παροχι βοθκείασ για οικογενειακά κζματα ςυχνά παραμελείται εξαιτίασ τθσ βαρφτθτασ που δίνεται για τθν εκπαίδευςθ των κρατουμζνων ςε βαςικζσ δεξιότθτεσ (North, 2005 Brooker et al, 2009; Carnie & Broderick, 2011) με προςαρμογι ςτο ελλθνικό ςωφρονιςτικό ςφςτθμα, δοκιμάςτθκε πιλοτικά ςε μικρό αρικμό γυναικϊν κρατουμζνων και τα ευριματα δθμοςιεφκθκαν ςε τρία διεκνι περιοδικά (Geitona & Milioni, 2016a;Geitona & Milioni, 2016b;Milioni & Geitona, 2017). Επιπλζον το γεγονόσ ότι θ εγκυρότθτα του ερωτθματολογίου βαςίςτθκε ςτθν εγκυρότθτα περιεχομζνου και όχι ςτθν εννοιολογικι καταςκευι ςυνιςτά ζναν ακόμθ περιοριςμό.…”