Landmark research reveals health needs of adults in NSW prisons
In December 2022, Justice Health NSW released the results of its first large-scale epidemiological study examining the health status and the use of health services by adults in NSW public prisons.
The 'People in NSW Public Prisons' study is an ongoing project that uses real-world, routinely collected data to identify the health needs of those in prison.
Project Lead Dr Reem Zeki said the study provided the opportunity to investigate the needs of people entering NSW public prisons.
“The cyclic nature of prison means that the health concerns of the prison population are also the health concerns of the general population,” Dr Zeki said.
Research Operations Manager Dr Julia Bowman said, “For the first time, we have access to important information about the health status and service utilisation of people in prison on a large scale. From here, we can make better informed strategic, operational and policy decisions as a health service.”
The People in NSW Public Prisons study is the first of its kind at Justice Health NSW and is an important milestone on the journey towards healthier tomorrows.