Menopause and the prison: A Systematic review exploring the experiences and support needs of women in prison in relation to the menopause.

BACKGROUND

The convergence of an ageing prison population and increasing numbers of women in custody globally has resulted in a growing sub-population of females of menopausal age experiencing imprisonment; however, this specific area is rarely studied.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the experiences and support needs of women in prison transitioning to the menopause.

DESIGN

A systematic review performed to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

DATA SOURCES AND

METHODS

A thorough search of multiple databases, including Web of Science, ProQuest, JSTR, Ovid Medline and Google Scholar was conducted to identify studies that explored menopause and the prison. The search was not restricted by publication date, geographical origin or methodology.

RESULTS

The review includes 19 studies in total from a range of geographical locations. Through a process of thematic analysis, four unique themes were identified: (un)awareness of menopausal symptoms and treatment options; experiencing menopausal symptoms in the context of imprisonment; barriers to managing symptoms in the prison environment and positive support and responses to the menopause. This review makes recommendations for policy and practice and highlights significant gaps in knowledge, indicating further research is required.

CONCLUSION

The systematic review has highlighted that the menopause in the context of imprisonment remains poorly understood, and there is a significant need for advances in research, policy and practice. The lack of awareness of the menopause, symptoms and treatment options for women in prison, accompanied with a lack of perceived understanding from professionals, highlights the distinct and urgent need for education and knowledge exchange.