Description

Aboriginal prisoners comprise one-quarter of the total prisoner population with a rate of imprisonment 14 times higher than non-Aboriginals. The 2009 NSW Inmate Health Survey (IHS) is the first Aboriginal-specific snapshot of the health and well-being of the NSW Aboriginal inmate population. The Surveys established an evidence base appropriate for the development and evaluation of health service delivery and examines trends over time in the health status adult inmates. This report presents the main findings of the cross-sectional component of the 2009 IHS drawing from a random sample of 996 participants, of which 312 self-identified as being of Aboriginal origin. Results are presented by Aboriginality and gender. The study’s key findings identified social determinants relating to, family history, offending behaviour and recidivism, violent histories, smoking, alcohol and other drug use, mental health problems, chronic diseases, blood borne viruses, sexual health and activity and health service utilisation.