Exposure to physical and sexual violence prior to imprisonment predicts mental health and substance use treatments in prison populations.
The present study aimed to establish rates of exposure to physical or sexual violence (PSV) prior to imprisonment for prisoners in Spain and to explore whether people exposed to PSV access mental health treatment during imprisonment. In a sample of 2484 male and 225 female prisoners, socio-demographic variables, exposure to PSV prior to imprisonment and mental health treatments during imprisonment were assessed. Frequencies were calculated as per cent values with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Risk Ratio (RR) of PSV and other socio-demographic variables to associate with mental health treatment during imprisonment was established. History of PSV was present in 35.2% (95% CI: 33.3-37.0) of the male and 40.0% (95% CI: 33.9-46.8) of the female prisoners. 70.7% (95% CI: 67.8-73.9) of the male and 76.9% (95% CI: 67.7-86.0) of the female prisoners with prior exposure to PSV were in mental health treatment during imprisonment. PSV was a significant predictor of mental health treatment during imprisonment in male (RR: 2.79; 95% CI 2.44-2.92) and female (RR: 1.94; 95% CI 1.76-2.23) prisoners. Most people with exposure to PSV prior to imprisonment access mental health treatment during imprisonment. Treatments may have to focus more on traumatic experiences.
Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: f.caravacasanchez@gmail.com.
Francisco Caravaca
FC
Sánchez
Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Aurelio
A
Luna
Faculty of Medicine, University of Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile; Faculty of Medicine, University of San Sebastian, Puerto Montt, Chile; Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Adrian
A
Mundt
D000328:Adult; D000069586:Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D000069581:Exposure to Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
Mental health treatment; Physical violence; Prisoners; Sexual violence