Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2025
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
Barriers and Facilitators to Quality Healthcare for African Americans with Incarceration Histories
Vickii Coffey1, Zainab Shah2, Esther Jenkins3
1Department of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, Governors State University, University Park, IL, USA. vcoffey@govst.edu.
Background:
Prior research has shown that African American men and women are more likely to receive lower quality healthcare compared to their white counterparts, which is exacerbated in jail and prison healthcare systems.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to explore barriers and facilitators to quality healthcare among African American men and women released from Illinois State Prisons or Cook County Jail by examining their opinions and experiences with overall healthcare and cancer screening during and after incarceration.
Design:
Four focus groups (n = 25 "co-researchers") were conducted to understand how formerly incarcerated African American men and women perceive and describe their experience of accessing, understanding, and utilizing healthcare during and after incarceration. Co-researchers' reports on healthcare during incarceration are retrospective.
Key Results:
Multiple facilitators and barriers to accessing healthcare were described. Unique themes from during incarceration included lack of access to adequate and appropriate healthcare, lack of trustworthiness of healthcare systems, excessive and punitive co-pays for questionable and inadequate healthcare, responses to inappropriate or inadequate healthcare motivated by negative attitudes, and actions by correctional staff or healthcare professionals which dis-incentivized medical help-seeking, and gaps in knowledge and understanding about cancer screening and chronic health conditions. Post-release themes included strong motivations to access and routinely utilize healthcare systems, the ability to prioritize health, increased access to healthcare and healthcare systems (though this required structural assistance), good or better-quality healthcare, and on-going support, knowledge, and positive interactions with healthcare professionals.
Conclusions:
This study highlights the need to address barriers to accessing healthcare during and after incarceration, particularly given racial disparities in healthcare treatment and outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
01:22Standards of Care I
01:17Healthcare Agencies II
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources,...
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:18Introduction To Health Care Delivery System
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates for a patient-centered, effective, safe, timely, equitable, and effective healthcare system. The National Priorities...