Women’s Health in Prison — Policy & Practice Review Checklist

16 items · Health · Medium difficulty · 30 min

Practical steps to review and improve women's health policies in prison.

• Audit current policies and practices on women's health

  Review written policies, service lists, staffing, and past incident records.

• Map clinical and support services available to women

  Record on-site and outreach services, schedules, and responsible teams.

• List reproductive and maternal health services available
• List mental health and substance-use services available
• Check access to timely emergency and routine medical care

  Confirm triage, transport, on-call coverage, and referral plans.

• Ensure confidentiality and privacy during health consultations

  Verify private exam spaces, secure records, and staff privacy training.

• Review procedures for menstrual hygiene and dignity needs

  Check availability, access, disposal, and respectful policies.

• Assess access to contraception and pregnancy care

  Include counseling, antenatal care, and birth planning supports.

• Evaluate screening and treatment for mental health and substance use

  Review screening tools, referral options, and follow-up care.

• Ensure policies prevent and respond to gender-based violence

  Confirm safe reporting, medical support, protection, and referrals.

• Update written policies to address identified gaps

  Draft clear, gender-responsive procedures and assign accountability.

• Train health and custodial staff on gender-sensitive care

  Include confidentiality, trauma-informed approaches, and cultural respect.

• Establish clear referral pathways to external healthcare and social services

  Document contacts for specialists, community programs, and shelters.

• Monitor medicines and supply chains to ensure continuity of care

  Track essential drugs, contraceptives, and chronic medication stocks.

• Provide health education and informed-consent materials in plain language

  Offer translated and accessible formats for all literacy levels.

• Collect and review women's health indicators regularly

  Use data on service use, outcomes, and complaints to guide change.

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