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Women in prison more likely to suffer from mental health problems, self-harm and commit suicide than male prisoners, says WHO
Women in prison are more likely to suffer from mental health problems, self-harm and commit suicide than male prisoners, according to a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the health of female inmates.
Women are also at greater risk than men of entering prison with sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS, often as a result of past high-risk sexual behaviour including sex work or being a victim of sexual abuse, the report states.
While women and girls make up a small proportion of the world’s total prison population, up to 9 percent (around 500,000 women and girls), healthcare in prisons needs to focus on the specific needs and problems women and girls face, the report says.
“Women in prison generally have more, and more specific, health problems than male prisoners and tend to place a greater demand on the prison health service than men do,” the WHO report states.
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