title: Work ability and treatment needs among Finnish female prisoners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to assess the work ability and employment history of Finnish female prisoners and their need for treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 101 female prisoners, with 309 male prisoners for comparison. The methods included interviews, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I, II Disorders and medical examination including ICD-10 diagnoses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among women, 78 per cent were unemployed and only 6 percent were employed whereas among men, the proportion of those employed was four times greater than for women. Of women, 42 per cent were unable to work; of men 11 per cent. Substance abuse disorders were the most common reason for impaired work ability (over 70 per cent in both genders). Among women, other mental disorders were the second most common reason (39 per cent), somatic diseases caused impairment in 23 per cent. Basic socio-demographic factors were not associated with impaired work ability among women. Violent crime as the present main offence was significantly more common among prisoners with limited working capacity. Need for treatment was found in 94 per cent of women and 90 per cent of men. In both genders, the majority of treatment needs were for mental disorders. Finnish female prisoners have serious problems with substance abuse, of both alcohol and drugs, which impairs their work ability, employability and is the cause of their need for treatment. In addition, female prisoners have other mental disorders commonly complicating their situation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper is a part of the first comprehensive health study of Finnish female prisoners.
authors.affiliation: Prison Hospital, Health Care Services, Criminal Sanctions Agency, Hämeenlinna, Finland. paivi.viitanen@mads.fi
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Viitanen
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vartiainen
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aarnio
authors.forename: Virpi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: von Gruenewaldt
authors.forename: Sirpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakamäki
authors.forename: Tomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lintonen
authors.forename: Aino K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: Terhi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wuolijoki
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joukamaa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Employment; Females; Finland; Prisoners; Prisons; Treatment; Women; Work ability