Health conditions among women in prisons: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Criminology

Background:

• Incarceration rates for women are rapidly increasing globally.
• The health needs of incarcerated women are frequently overlooked.
• Existing research often lacks comprehensive data on the health status of women in custody.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and summarize global evidence on the health of women in prisons.
• To identify prevalent health conditions and data gaps in this population.
• To highlight health inequities faced by incarcerated women.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature from Jan 1, 2003, to Jan 29, 2025.
• Inclusion of quantitative studies reporting health condition prevalence among women in carceral settings worldwide.
• Risk of bias assessment using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 247 studies involving over 452,261 women.
• High risk of bias was noted in nearly all included studies.
• Communicable diseases and mental health conditions were most frequently reported, with wide variations in prevalence across regions.

Conclusions:

• Women in custody experience a high burden of health conditions, yet significant evidence gaps exist.
• There is a critical need for improved data collection and reporting, particularly for non-communicable conditions.
• Findings underscore the urgent need for correctional, health, and research communities to address health inequities in incarcerated women.