International journal of prison health最新文献

{"title":"Oral health and dental services in Irish prison populations.","authors":"Darshini Ramasubbu, Bridget Johnston, Jonathan Lewney, Brett Duane, Blánaid Daly","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-03-2025-0025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-03-2025-0025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>There is insufficient data on the oral health of those incarcerated in Ireland and oral health is generally poorer in people in prison. The purpose of this study is to investigate and describe the oral health needs of people in prison, patterns of dental care and the outcomes of dental services in Irish prisons.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A retrospective chart review of patient dental records was undertaken from a sample across Ireland. Outcomes included the presence of active decay, reasons for initial presentation and patterns of service use.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The sample totalled 389 incarcerated persons. Fewer than 40% of this population had full dental charting completed. More than 40% of prisoners had active and untreated dental decay noted whilst addressing their presenting complaint. For 44.7% it was not possible to make any determination in relation to other oral health needs. The most common reason for initially accessing prison dental services was emergency presentation for pain or infection. The low proportion of prisoners with full dental charting is an important finding in itself, and reflects some of the challenges of providing dental care in prisons.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>The recording of dental data is an important part of patient care. Incarcerated people are at high risk for oral diseases and demand for dental services frequently exceeds availability. More research is needed to establish and reduce the dental disease burden of people in prison, and how a reorientation towards preventative dentistry could be achieved in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147848618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rugby as a health and well-being intervention for young people in custody: reflections from a German youth correctional facility (JA Hameln).","authors":"Torge-Christian Wittke","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to examine a rugby-based health and well-being intervention for young men in custody in a German youth correctional facility in Hameln (JA Hameln), with particular attention to feasibility, psychosocial well-being, emotional regulation and social cohesion.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>The study reports on two implementation cycles of the same programme model conducted in 2024 and 2025 at JA Hameln. Each cycle consisted of two 90-min sessions per week delivered by trauma-informed coaches (Cycle 1:6 weeks and Cycle 2:8 weeks). Qualitative evidence was derived from coach field notes, weekly staff reflections and informal participant feedback. Because this was a practice-based service evaluation rather than a controlled outcome study, findings are presented as perceived and observed changes rather than isolated causal effects.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Participants and staff described the programme as feasible and acceptable within the custodial setting. They reported emotional relief, improved mood, stronger cooperation and greater trust within the intervention group. Staff also noted a calmer group climate and fewer behavioural incidents during intervention periods. Rugby appeared to function not only as a physical activity but also as a structured pedagogical medium through which rules, contact, responsibility and cooperation could be rehearsed.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>Rugby may function as a transferable sport-based health-promotion tool in custodial settings when it is embedded in institutional routines, delivered by appropriately trained staff and adapted to local safety and cultural conditions.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first published practice reports of a structured rugby-based intervention in a German youth correctional facility. The study extends predominantly UK-based prison-sport literature by discussing rugby within a lower-familiarity German context and by linking practical delivery to prison health, salutogenic and trauma-informed perspectives.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147794202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Promoting medication adherence through visual education: a prison-based study among women with hypertension.","authors":"Angga Wilandika, Santy Sanusi, Ineke Mei Salvira","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a poster-based visual health education intervention in improving medication adherence among incarcerated women diagnosed with hypertension.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A one-group repeated-measures pretest-posttest (pre-experimental) design was conducted in a women's correctional facility designated for individuals convicted of drug-related offenses in Indonesia. A total of 39 incarcerated women clinically diagnosed with hypertension participated in the study. Poster-based educational materials were installed in communal spaces over a 30-day period. Medication adherence was measured using a validated self-report adherence questionnaire (score range 0-40, higher scores indicating better adherence) at three time points: Day 0 (pretest), Day 15 (midtest) and Day 30 (posttest). Data were analyzed using the Friedman test for overall change, followed by post hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank and McNemar tests with Bonferroni correction.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>There was a significant upward trend in medication adherence scores over the 30-day intervention. Mean medication adherence scores increased from 16.7 at pretest to 31.5 at posttest. The proportion of participants with high adherence rose from 17.9% to 76.9%. All pairwise comparisons between time points were statistically significant, indicating that poster-based visual education contributed to improved adherence behavior.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>Posters may serve as a scalable and sustainable tool to promote chronic disease self-management in correctional environments.</p><p><strong>Social implications: </strong>Improving adherence through simple visual tools may reduce long-term health disparities among incarcerated populations.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>This study demonstrates the potential of low-cost, visual-based educational interventions in prison health settings, an area where health education strategies remain underexplored.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147625175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health risk behaviors: prevention priorities among Portuguese incarcerated males.","authors":"Tânia Brandão, Andreia de Castro Rodrigues, Telma Sousa Almeida, Miguel Basto-Pereira","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-07-2025-0051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-07-2025-0051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Incarcerated people have been identified as a vulnerable population prone to health risk behaviors (HRBs). This study aims to compare a set of HRBs in Portuguese incarcerated males with a community-matched control group and explore the influence of social-emotional competences and self-control on these behaviors. The authors expect that incarcerated males would present more HRBs in comparison to the community sample.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>The study included 573 participants (312 incarcerated males and 251 males from the community).</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Incarcerated males exhibited higher rates of HRBs, including early sexual initiation, smoking, early drug initiation, drug use, self-harm, suicide attempts and violent conduct. Self-control emerged as a mediator between social-emotional competences and HRBs.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>These findings have significant implications for preventive policies and public health initiatives, shedding light on health risk dynamics within this vulnerable population. Urgent interventions are needed to address incarcerated males' health and well-being, with a specific focus on enhancing self-control for risk reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147517999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the perception of dental anxiety among people in prison in France: the DANXIERAL qualitative study.","authors":"Josephine Plaut, Astrid Ancely, Stephanie Brayer, Catherine Baussois, Cathy Nabet, Géromine Fournier","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Despite high levels of dental fear among people in prison, qualitative research investigating their subjective perceptions remains scarce. This study aims to explore how men who are incarcerated in a French remand center experience and express dental anxiety.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A single-center qualitative study was conducted with 16 men who are incarcerated in a French remand center. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a guide. Data was analyzed through an inductive thematic approach.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Three major themes emerged: (1) traumatic personal experiences with dental care; (2) emotional and sensory dimensions of dental anxiety; and (3) perspectives of people who are incarcerated on an ideal dental consultation. The narratives reveal how past trauma, mistrust of healthcare providers and environmental stressors within prison contribute to care avoidance. Participants also proposed practical improvements to make dental services provided in prison more reassuring, accessible and dignified.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first qualitative study in France to explore dental anxiety among people who are incarcerated using a multisensory, narrative-based approach. The study highlights the role of person-centered care in addressing dental anxiety in prison settings and provides concrete, context-specific recommendations for improving oral and healthcare delivery in correctional facilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147329016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sexual and physical safety: perceptions of incarcerated women.","authors":"Margaret E Shippen, Nicholas C Derzis, Sharon M Weaver, Angela L Hall, Christine L Fleming","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study was to collect, track and analyze data from the inmates perspective to ensure that sexual abuse and harassment was being adequately prevented, detected and responded to appropriately and within a reasonable time frame.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>Using the Prison Rape Elimination Act Survey Instrument, inmates were selected using a convenience sampling method to complete the survey. Once an inmate completed the survey during the year, she was taken off the polling roster not to be surveyed again within that year.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The perceptions of the female inmates indicated that sexual harassment and sexual abuse at this facility have decreased. However, despite increased staff training and education, inmate perceptions were that verbal abuse continues to occur between staff and inmates as well as between inmates.</p><p><strong>Research limitations/implications: </strong>Department of Corrections (DOC) was required to collect data on PREA and inmate safety for the first time, thus there is no comparison data prior to implementing improvements. A weakness of Likert-type scale is that participants may avoid extreme response categories, which could lead to a central tendency bias. In addition, participants may respond to statements using the option \"neither agree nor disagree\" to please prison personnel, which could lead to an acquiescence bias in their responses.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>Zero-tolerance becomes operational, not just policy immediate safety actions after an allegation gender-responsive searches and cross-gender supervision intake screening that actually drives housing and work assignments staff hiring, training and boundaries specialized investigations and evidence handling.</p><p><strong>Social implications: </strong>Legitimacy and trust in the institution reporting behavior - both up and down culture change and staff-resident relations protection for vulnerable groups health and mental-health access.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>This study was a result of a US Department of Justice settlement with a state DOC which included polling the female inmates on their physical and sexual safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146215416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Training needs of juvenile justice operators working with young muslims in Italy: a Sicilian case study.","authors":"Maria Garro, Gaetano Di Napoli, Giacomo Scattarreggia, Stefano Ruggieri","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-04-2025-0031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-04-2025-0031","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Purpose: &lt;/strong&gt;The main aim of the study is to identify the training needs of juvenile justice professionals working with Muslim minors and young people. The Italian juvenile justice system faces numerous challenges in protecting the well-being of young people of Islamic faith under its care. These individuals, often subjected to psychological violence due to the double stigma of being both immigrants and Muslims, may experience low levels of well-being. Combined with the psychological stress of arrest and detention, this can increase their vulnerability. In the absence of adequate protective factors, these conditions may facilitate a path toward criminal careers, from which disengagement is particularly difficult.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Design/methodology/approach: &lt;/strong&gt;An online questionnaire was administered to 74 helping professionals (50% response rate) operating in custodial and non-custodial facilities of the Juvenile Justice Center of Sicily Region (Italy), who work with young people and young adults of Islamic faith.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Findings: &lt;/strong&gt;Nearly half of operators (45.9%) self-reported poor or sufficient multicultural competences. The most critical training needs identified were intercultural communication (73%), psychological support (68%) and intercultural approaches (68%). Language barriers and ethnic prejudice emerged as the primary challenges for young Muslims (76% each), followed by cultural identity issues (57%). Operators reported limited access to cultural mediators (mentioned by 75.5% as a barrier) and insufficient collaboration with local Islamic associations. Only 20.3% of respondents indicated adequate institutional provisions for religious practices (halal food, prayer spaces and spiritual care).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Research limitations/implications: &lt;/strong&gt;The study's findings were not nationally representative. Juvenile justice in Italy varies significantly between regions due to differences in available resources and the specific characteristics of migration flows. However, Sicily hosts four of Italy's 17 juvenile detention facilities and serves as a primary entry point for migration flows from Africa. Furthermore, while sharing fundamental principles with other European countries, the Italian system has distinctive features that make international comparisons challenging.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Practical implications: &lt;/strong&gt;Based on the findings, the Universities of Padua, Verona, Bari and Palermo, together with the Department of Juvenile and Community Justice, signed a letter of intent in February 2025 to define collaboration modalities and initiate an operational agreement. Such initiatives can serve as protective factors for young Muslims' well-being, fostering individualized interventions and integrated support.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Originality/value: &lt;/strong&gt;This contribution provides a snapshot of the training needs of practitioners working with Muslim young people. At present, there are no other similar studie","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146151780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beyond contextual stressors: uncertain reflective functioning, loneliness and emotional exhaustion as psychological correlates of perceived stress in prison officers.","authors":"Antonia Sorge, Alessandro Musetti, Gianluca Bianchi, Mattia Pezzi, Christian Franceschini, Denise Vagnini, Emanuela Saita","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2025-0074","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2025-0074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to examine how uncertain reflective functioning (RF_U), loneliness (isolation, relational connectedness and trait loneliness) and emotional exhaustion (EE) contribute to perceived stress among prison officers (POs), beyond traditional contextual factors.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 58 Italian POs (mean age = 44.3 years; 72.4% male, 27.6% female) who completed standardized self-report measures distributed via Qualtrics. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations among variables.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Correlation analysis indicated that higher perceived stress was linked to greater loneliness, particularly low relational connectedness, higher EE and greater RF_U. However, only relational connectedness and RF_U significantly predicted perceived stress in the multiple regression analysis, controlling for age, gender and job type, highlighting their key role in shaping stress responses.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>These findings suggest the potential utility of interventions targeting both external conditions and internal relational processes to effectively reduce perceived stress in POs.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-17"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12884837/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146032491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of a vitamin D supplementation initiative in an NHS prison health care service during the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Aikaterini Dima, Iain McKinnon, Daniel Whiting, John Tully","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-06-2025-0045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-06-2025-0045","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Vitamin D deficiency is a global concern, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including prisoners. Vitamin D was found to be protective against Covid-19 during the pandemic. As a response, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust implemented a vitamin D supplementation policy across three prison health-care settings in the UK. The purpose of this study was to assess the overall impact of this policy on supplementation rates and Vitamin D deficiency.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>This pragmatic cross-sectional study retrospectively evaluated the impact of the vitamin D supplementation policy on supplementation uptake and deficiency rates. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as less than 50 nmol/L. Cross-sectional data were collected from 768 prisoners for periods of two years before and two years after introduction of the policy.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Overall supplementation rates were lower after the policy introduction (43%, n = 330 versus 35%, n = 270; McNemar's χ2, p = 0.004). However, there was increased uptake among previously untreated individuals - 40% (n = 175) of those previously untreated (n = 438) received supplementation after policy implementation. There was an overall reduction in vitamin D deficiency from 71% to 55% after policy introduction (χ2 = 12.3, Cramer's V = 0.13, p < 0.001). Mean vitamin D levels increased from 41.3 nmol/L to 50.3 nmol/L. In a small subsample (n = 23) in whom vitamin D levels were available before and after the policy, paired sample analysis showed significant mean vitamin D level increase (p < 0.001). An exploratory analysis using binary logistic regression suggested the specific prison location and pre-existing vitamin D deficiency as significant predictors of deficiency post-policy.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>The findings highlight the potential effectiveness of a simple, population-wide supplementation strategy in reducing vitamin D deficiency within prisons. Future research should use prospective designs and explore factors influencing supplementation adherence and long-term health outcomes, toward developing the most effective strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146000460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"History of incarceration and oral health among older adults with diabetes: a population-based study of tooth loss and dental care.","authors":"Sabrina L Blank, Rodlescia Sneed","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2025-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-01-2025-0004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to examine associations between history of incarceration (HOI) and two oral health outcomes (tooth loss and dental care utilization) among older adults with diabetes, as well as identify factors that may mediate these associations.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>The authors used self-report data from the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (a population-based study of adults aged >50 in the USA) to evaluate associations between HOI and the two oral health outcomes, controlling for demographics.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>HOI was associated with greater odds of permanent tooth loss (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.08-1.90) and reduced odds of dental care utilization in the past two years (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.53-0.92). After adjusting for social support and perceived provider mistrust, the association remained but was attenuated (direct effect = -0.310, p = 0.030). Further, 11% of the total effect was explained by the mediators, with social support accounting for 74% of the indirect effect, and perceived provider mistrust accounting for the remaining 26%.</p><p><strong>Research limitations/implications: </strong>Findings are limited by the study design. This cross-sectional study had data that was collected at one point in time. Thus, long-term follow-up could not occur. Additionally, the HRS does not differentiate between prison and jail, and health disparities tend to differ between jail and prison. Evidence from this study was preliminary and correlational, and longitudinal work should be conducted.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>There are disparities in oral health indicators among those with diabetes based on HOI. Future research should identify barriers to oral health diabetes management in prison and test potential interventions to improve diabetes management following release from prison.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to provide evidence of oral health disparities among older adults with diabetes with a history of incarceration. No study has yet investigated these important health markers in individuals with a history of incarceration. This is important for future intervention to improve healthcare in the justice system.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145902122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}