Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health differentials in Australian prisoners

  1. Azar Kariminia1,
  2. Tony Butler2,
  3. Michael Levy3

Article first published online: 2 AUG 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00089.x

Issue

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Volume 31, Issue 4, pages 366–371, August 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kariminia, A., Butler, T. and Levy, M. (2007), Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health differentials in Australian prisoners. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 31: 366–371. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2007.00089.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Centre for Health Research in Criminal Justice (Justice Health), New South Wales, and National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales

  2. 2

    Centre for Health Research in Criminal Justice (Justice Health), New South Wales, and National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia

  3. 3

    School of Behavioural Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales, and Corrections Health Program, Australian Capital Territory

*Correspondence to: Associate Professor Tony Butler, National Drug Research Institute, PO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845. Fax: (08) 9266 1611; e-mail: t.butler@curtin.edu.au

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 AUG 2007
  2. Article first published online: 2 AUG 2007
  3. Submitted: January 2007 Revision requested: June 2007 Accepted: June 2007

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Keywords:

  • Prisoners;
  • Indigenous Australians

Abstract

Objective: Compare the self-reported physical and mental health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoners in New South Wales (NSW).

Design: Cross-sectional random sample.

Setting: Twenty-nine correctional centres (27 male and two female) in NSW.

Participants: 747 men (227 Aboriginal) and 167 women (29 Aboriginal) in full-time custody.

Methods: Face to-face interviews were used to record self-reported health status.

Results: Aboriginal prisoners differed significantly from non-Aboriginal inmates in several socio-demographic and criminographic factors. However, few differences were observed in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men and women. After adjusting for age, Aboriginal men were more likely to report high blood pressure and diabetes. No differences were found in chronic health conditions in the female group. Aboriginal men had higher SF-36 scores than non-Aboriginal men on general health, vitality, and mental health. Aboriginal women had lower scores than non-Aboriginal women on social functioning and role-emotional but scored higher on the role-physical dimension.

Aboriginal inmates were more likely to report seeing certain health professionals (doctors, dentists, drug and alcohol counsellors, and optometrists) in prison compared with the community.

Conclusions: The health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoners is remarkably similar in this population group. Few differences were observed in self-reported chronic health conditions. Aboriginal prisoners report using prison health services more while in prison compared with the community. This highlights that for many, prison is a rare opportunity to contact health services.

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