An examination of chronic ill-health and lifestyle factors among inmates: searching for the healthy immigrant effect in New South Wales Prisons

Field, C; Zovko, A; Bowman, J

An examination of chronic ill-health and lifestyle factors among inmates: searching for the healthy immigrant effect in New South Wales Prisons

Field, C Zovko, A Bowman, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Prisoner Health, 2019
Issue Date:: 2019-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Field, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zovko, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bowman, J	en_US
dc.date.issued	2019-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Prisoner Health, 2019	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1744-9200	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/137047
dc.description.abstract	© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare the rates of chronic health conditions and lifestyle factors between Australian-born and overseas-born inmates and to uncover predictive relationships between lifestyle factors and health outcomes for both groups. Design/methodology/approach: Data are presented from a cross-sectional study based on a sample of inmates from correctional sites in New South Wales (NSW). The inclusion of results here was guided by the literature relating to the healthy immigrant effect. Findings: Results indicate that a higher proportion of Australian-born inmates consumed alcohol at higher levels and were more likely to smoke on a daily or almost daily basis than overseas-born inmates. Australian-born inmates were also more likely than overseas-born inmates to have been diagnosed with cancer, epilepsy or hepatitis C. Physical activity predicted the number of diagnoses for Australian-born inmates while physical activity and smoking frequency predicted the number of diagnoses for overseas-born inmates. Practical implications: Overseas-born inmates make up a considerable portion of the prison population in NSW. A better understanding of those health and lifestyle factors that distinguish them from Australian-born inmates provides important insight regarding health promotion and the planning of service provision for those providing health care in this space. Originality/value: Comparison of the health of immigrant and native-born prison inmates has not been undertaken before and promises to provide important information regarding those factors that distinguish a sizeable minority in the prison population.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Prisoner Health	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1108/IJPH-01-2019-0003	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Substance Abuse	en_US
dc.title	An examination of chronic ill-health and lifestyle factors among inmates: searching for the healthy immigrant effect in New South Wales Prisons	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	1602 Criminology	en_US
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Law
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US

Abstract:

© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare the rates of chronic health conditions and lifestyle factors between Australian-born and overseas-born inmates and to uncover predictive relationships between lifestyle factors and health outcomes for both groups. Design/methodology/approach: Data are presented from a cross-sectional study based on a sample of inmates from correctional sites in New South Wales (NSW). The inclusion of results here was guided by the literature relating to the healthy immigrant effect. Findings: Results indicate that a higher proportion of Australian-born inmates consumed alcohol at higher levels and were more likely to smoke on a daily or almost daily basis than overseas-born inmates. Australian-born inmates were also more likely than overseas-born inmates to have been diagnosed with cancer, epilepsy or hepatitis C. Physical activity predicted the number of diagnoses for Australian-born inmates while physical activity and smoking frequency predicted the number of diagnoses for overseas-born inmates. Practical implications: Overseas-born inmates make up a considerable portion of the prison population in NSW. A better understanding of those health and lifestyle factors that distinguish them from Australian-born inmates provides important insight regarding health promotion and the planning of service provision for those providing health care in this space. Originality/value: Comparison of the health of immigrant and native-born prison inmates has not been undertaken before and promises to provide important information regarding those factors that distinguish a sizeable minority in the prison population.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/137047