Health services
There are high levels of health problems among people in prison;however, it can be difficult for some people to access health services in the community. Health can be a lower priority for some people, particularly when they have concerns about housing, employment, dependants, alcohol and other drug issues, and other stressful life events. Prison may provide an opportunity to access some required health-care services (Plugge et al. 2014).
The NPHDC provided information from prison entrants on their health-seeking behaviours. Data were collected about visits to health professionals, both in the community and in prison (for those prison entrants who reported being in prison on a prior incarceration in the previous 12 months). Information was also collected about when prison entrants did not seek health-care services, and their reasons for not seeking health care when needed.
Plugge, E., Ahmed Abdul Pari, A., Maxwell, J. and Holland, S. (2014), "When prison is “easier”: probationers’ perceptions of health and wellbeing", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 38-46. doi:10.1108/IJPH-01-2013-0001.