Safety of women in mixed-sex and single-sex medium secure units: staff and patient perceptions.
BACKGROUND
The development of single-sex medium secure units for women has been driven by concern about the vulnerability of women to sexual abuse and exploitation in mixed-sex secure settings. Less is known about how women patients and staff perceive gender segregation and their experiences in single-sex units.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of gender segregation on the safety of women patients detained in medium secure psychiatric facilities.


METHODS
A qualitative study was conducted involving individual interviews with 58 male and female staff and 31 women patients in single-sex and mixed-sex medium secure units throughout England and Wales.


RESULTS
Women patients in both types of units reported high levels of actual and threatened physical and sexual violence. Women in single-sex units reported intimidation, threats and abuse by other women patients, although they were less vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation and serious physical assault.


CONCLUSIONS
Further development of single-sex secure units for women may not be justified on the grounds of safety issues alone. Risk assessment of forensic psychiatric patients must include a full assessment of their safety within the psychiatric setting.
Mezey
Gillian
G
St George's, University of London, Department of Mental Health (Forensic), Jenner Wing,Ground Floor, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK. gmezey@sgul.ac.uk
Hassell
Yonette
Y
Bartlett
Annie
A
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012449:Safety; D012742:Sex Offenses; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D013222:State Medicine; D014754:Violence; D014852:Wales; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*