Menstrual health, exposure to violence and mental health among incarcerated women: a mixed-method study of selected prisons in Bangladesh
AI Summary
High prevalence of menstrual health problems (pain 53%, heavy bleeding 40%, irregular 32%) and inadequate hygiene practices among incarcerated women.
Widespread violence: 54% psychological, 21% physical, 5% sexual; help-seeking extremely low and poor living conditions compound vulnerability.
Near universal risk of clinical depression (98%), self-harm and suicide attempts present; prison health care is ill equipped, necessitating urgent reform.
Int J Prison Health (2024). 2026 May 21:1-16. doi: 10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0067. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This paper aims to investigate some key health issues among incarcerated women in Bangladesh. It seeks to identify the magnitude and nature of menstrual health problems, violence victimization and mental health issues in this population and to explore the prison context and available health infrastructure for addressing these health problems.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study employs a mixed-method cross-sectional design and covers four purposively selected prisons in Bangladesh. The sample includes incarcerated women aged 18 years and above, who were either convicted or under trial and had been imprisoned for at least eight months (n = 281).
FINDINGS: Menstrual health problems such as pain during menstruation (53%), excessive bleeding (40%) and irregular periods (32%), and inadequate hygiene practices such as changing menstrual absorbent less than three times a day (50%) were widespread among the incarcerated women. Violence in the last six months was highly prevalent in this population with 54% reporting psychological, 21% – physical and 5% – sexual violence. Help-seeking for violence was extremely low (0-12%). The risk of clinical depression was universal (98%) in this sample. Around 7% engaged in self-harm, and 1% attempted suicide during imprisonment. Poor living conditions compounded the overall vulnerability of the women. The prison health care was not equipped to address these problems.
RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The burden of menstrual health problems, violence victimization and mental health issues were disproportionately higher among women living in prisons in Bangladesh.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to document the magnitude and nature of key health problems of women who are living in prisons in Bangladesh. The findings highlight huge service gaps in addressing these problems highlighting the urgent need for prison health reform for women.
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