Perceived Access to Healthcare and Support Services in Icelandic Prisons and Service Utilization Among Male Residents at Vernd

This study examined whether perceived access to healthcare and support services in Icelandic prisons is associated with service utilization among male residents at Vernd, a halfway house in Iceland. The sample consisted of 225 Icelandic-speaking former male inmates who completed a self-report questionnaire at the end of their stay at Vernd. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used, and data were analyzed using linear and multiple regression analyses, as well as independent samples t-tests. The results indicated that greater perceived access to services in prison was significantly associated with higher service utilization at Vernd, although the effect size was small. Greater perceived access was not associated with attitudes toward residing at Vernd but was associated with a greater likelihood of preferring imprisonment over Vernd, although this finding should be interpreted with caution. Having a substance use problem was also significantly associated with service utilization, whereas social support was not. The findings suggest that perceived access to services during incarceration may contribute to post-release service utilization, but that additional individual and structural factors are also likely to play an important role. Keywords: healthcare access, support services, service utilization, reintegration, substance use problem, social support

Author dc:creator

• Annika Magnúsdóttir Waage 2003-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Sálfræði
• Heilbrigðisþjónusta
• Fangelsisvist
• Félagsþjónusta
• Fíkniefnaneysla
• Substance abuse
• Psychology
• Health services accessibility
• Prisoners--Deinstitutionalization
• Social service

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1946/53412

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/53412