The Health Profile of Incarcerated Women

• In Event: Collateral Consequences, Mental Health, and Emotional Wellbeing

Abstract

In this paper, I capture health differences between incarcerated and non-institutionalized women in the United States in 2016. The paper examines the health disparities between incarcerated women and non-institutionalized women in the U.S. using data from the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates and the National Health Interview Survey. Research shows that incarceration negatively impacts long-term health, with high rates of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and mental health disorders (CITE). While much of the existing research focuses on men, the incarceration rate for women has grown significantly, with system-impacted women facing unique disadvantages in employment, housing, and healthcare access (CITE). Despite having access to healthcare while incarcerated, many experience significant barriers to adequate treatment, particularly in access to reproductive and mental health services (CITE). The study analyzes health disparities related to mortality, mental health, and reproductive health, controlling for age, education, and welfare receipt. I employ logistic regression and decomposition methods to assess disparities in health conditions between these two groups. Ultimately, incarcerated women have worse health than non-institutionalized women, a disparity that cannot be entirely explained by composition differences in age, race, and socioeconomic status.

Author

• Chloe Craig, Dickinson College