Canadian women’s health &

physical activity needs in prison

Victoria Felkar

Supervisor: Dr. Patricia Vertinsky

UBC School of Kinesiology

MURC Conference March 24, 2012

candidate for BKin, Interdisciplinary stream

pursuing MA in Kinesiology Sept. 2012 (UBC)

employed in fitness industry (CSEP-CPT)

(Correctional Service of Canada, 2010)

Kent Institution Agassiz, British Columbia

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Federal total Provincial & Territorial total

% of Total

Inmate Population

1991-1992 2001-2002 2008-2009

Growing number of female offenders

in Canada

Challenges in addressing inmate health

needs

Deficiencies in linking knowledge to

practical application for improving inmate

health & access

Highlight the health & health care needs of the

female inmate

Discuss the role of physical activity

“Physical activity in Canadian corrections”

complexity of correctional system

multiple variables and terms

overwhelming lack of information

“Canadian Corrections, Women’s Health,

Physical Activity ”

inmate health & health care needs

physical activity, benefits and access

1/10 of the inmate population

young, single, Aboriginal

Decreased health status life expectancy chronic illness

suicide risk mental disorder

substance addiction history of abuse

Lack of knowledge about health

& access to health services in Canada

Without knowledge

health care cannot be addressed

cannot determine programming & access

Physical activity is strategized as

Health promoting

Potential to rehabilitate offenders

Cost effective

Facilitate re-entry into the community

Lack of knowledge

Segregation exercise yard.

Kent Institution (Jackson, 2002)

Findings to date reveal

Improved physiological & psychological health

chronic illness aggression levels

optimism & self growth quality of life

social skills idleness

Little access

Gender biased programming

Growing female inmate population

with diverse healthcare needs

Inadequate knowledge about

health

access to healthcare services

role of physical activity

(The Corrections Reporter, 2010)

Increase knowledge & body of research specific health needs of inmates

access & attitudes towards health promotion

Role of physical activity?

Corrections Canada. (2010). Kent Institution. [Web Photo]. Retrieved March 21, 2012, from http://www.csc scc.gc.ca/text/facilit/inst itutprofiles/kent-eng.shtml

Corrections Reporter. (2010). Canadian women in prison. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from

http://www.correctionsreporter.com/2010/05/10/canada-50-more-women-in-prison/ Calverley, D. (2010). Adult Correctional Services in Canada, 2008/2009. In Statistics

Canada. Retrieved August 3, 2011, from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2010003/article/11353-eng.htm

Caplan, A. (1996). The role of recreational sports in the federal prison system.

Unpublished master’s thesis, Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada. De Viggiani, N. (2007). Unhealthy prisons: Exploring structural determinants of prison

health. Sociology of Health & Illness, 29(1), 115-135. Jackson, M. (Photographer). (2002). Kent segretation . [Web Photo]. Retrieved from

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Ozano, K. (2008). The role of physical education, sport and exercise in a female prison. Unpublished masters’ thesis, The University of Chester. Cheshire, United Kingdom. Perez-Moreno, F., Camara-Sanchez, M., Tremblayy, J.F., Riera-Rubio, V.J., Gil-Paisan, L.

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detainees’ mood and well-being in prison: Physical activities. International Review on Sport & Violence, 2.

World Health Organization (WHO) (2009). Women’s health in prison: Correcting gender

inequity in prison health. In World Health Organization: Health in Prisons Project. Retreived October 17, 2011 from http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/health-determinants/prisons-and-health/publications/womens-health-in-prison.-correcting-gender-inequity-in-prison-health