Rahavard Salamat Journal

Abstract

Background and objectives: Female prisoners considered as a vulnerable group in society which label of prison lead to destructive effect on mental health of these groups. Also crime of these women in most situations has light condemnation for their but prevalence of mental health problem related to these women was very high, so the aim of the study was evaluation of effective factors on mental health in a women prisoners in Iran, 2011-2012.

Methods: In this cross- sectional study, 120 female prisoners participated via convenience sampling. Data was collected by demographic and mental health questionnaire (GHQ-28) and then analyzed by SPSS software version 20. To describe data used from mean, standard deviation and frequency, subsequent, multiple linear regression for statistical test applied.

Results: The mean age of participants was 32.8±9.6 years. Analysis of related to the domain mental health questionnaire showed that the highest average scores in the domain of anxiety and insomnia (10.2±5.9) and the lowest average in the domain of depression(7.1±5.4). Based on regression analysis, occupation variable on physical symptom domain (P=0/025), education and recent disease on anxiety and insomnia domain, breadwinner of person on social action and education variable on mental health were statistically effected.

Conclusion: Over a quarter of women in prison has mental health been middle and poor. Several factors affected the mental health of women prisoners, which should be consideration to all factors affecting the lives of women prisoners are essential. But before applying any intervention programs to improve mental health this group of women, paying attention to education, employment status and household head that can In the process of improving or decline women's mental health status affected.