Sexual and reproductive health needs of incarcerated women in Iran

Incarcerated women encounter distinct challenges related to their reproductive and sexual health, which necessitate a focused understanding and responsive healthcare approach. Recognizing and addressing their specific needs is crucial for promoting their overall well-being. This study aimed to assess the reproductive and sexual health needs of women in prisons of Iran. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a prison of Tehran, Iran from December 2022 to March 2023. The Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Incarcerated Women (SRH-NIW) Scale was administered to 630 incarcerated female aged 15-49. The data were analysed by statistics package for social science (SPSS, version 21.0, Chicago, IL). Findings demonstrated that the overall mean score of SRH-NIW was 92.99 which indicated that these women had relatively high need for sexual and reproductive services. Pregnancy and childbirth services (Mean = 94.86), along with personal and medical care (Mean = 94.55) domains had the highest average. Also, screening services (Mean = 93.88), infection control services (Mean = 91.41), and family planning and sexual health services (Mean = 79.54) had lower score. Incarcerated women in Iran reported that they need sanitary facilities, limited restriction during pregnancy and childbirth, equal and proper insurance support, timely medical services and proper nutrition for their baby, preventive services for transmitted diseases, appropriate services for mental health issues, substance abuse, and sexual violation. Efforts to increase access to comprehensive, responsive, and timely reproductive healthcare should be informed by the needs and desires of women in prison and should actively seek to reduce their experience of discrimination and stigma in this context.