Incarcerated women develop a nutrition and fitness program: participatory research
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 23 September 2013
Abstract
Purpose
Women in prison throughout the world experience higher rates of mental and physical illness compared with the general population and compared with men in prison. The paper finds no published studies that report on men or women in prison engaging in participatory health research to address their concerns about nutrition and fitness. The purpose of this paper is to describe a pilot nutrition and fitness program, which resulted from a unique prison participatory health research project.
Design/methodology/approach
Women in prison designed, led, and evaluated a six-week pilot fitness program in a minimum/medium security women's prison. Pre- and post-program assessments included a self-administered questionnaire and body measures. Open-ended questionnaire responses illuminated the quantitative findings.
Findings
Sixteen women in prison completed the program evaluation. Weight, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and chest measurements decreased, and energy, sleep, and stress levels improved by the end of the program.
Research limitations/implications
As a component of a participatory research project, incarcerated women designed and led a nutrition and fitness program, which resulted in improved body measures and self-reported health benefits.
Originality Value
Incarceration provides opportunities to engage women in designing their own health programs with consequent potential long-term “healing” benefits.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors declare no potential conflict of interest in the research. This health research project was supported by an operating grant from the BC Medical Services Foundation of the Vancouver Foundation, and by collaborative funding support from the Fraser Health Authority, Women's Health Research Institute and BC Women's Hospital.
Acknowledgements: The authors thank Benjamin Martin and Anna Chan for their research assistance and data entry; and, Rebecca James and Sally Yue Lin for formatting the manuscript for publication.
For a complete list of individuals who were involved as peer researchers and other contributors in the prison participatory research project, please visit the project website at www.womenin2healing.org
Citation
Elwood Martin, R., Adamson, S., Korchinski, M., Granger-Brown, A., R. Ramsden, V., A. Buxton, J., Espinoza-Magana, N., L. Pollock, S., J.F. Smith, M., C. Macaulay, A., Lisa Condello, L. and Gregory Hislop, T. (2013), "Incarcerated women develop a nutrition and fitness program: participatory research", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 142-150. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-03-2013-0015
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited