Hazardous journeys to better places: positive outcomes and negative risks associated with the care pathway before, during and after an admittance to the Dochas Centre, Mountjoy Women's Prison, Dublin, Ireland.

Abstract

This report provides information on the care pathway and outcomes for Irish female drug using prisoners. This is a process evaluation and treatment outcome study of female drug using prisoners admitted to The Dochas Centre, Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, Ireland. Questions addressed included the nature and extent of treatment provided, discharge planning, aftercare arrangements and a study of the integrated care pathway. The outcome evaluation looked at whether clients of the service had changed over time. Key activities in process and outcome evaluations include; A review of existing treatment methods and resources; Identification and critical analysis of programme logic models; Focus groups and discussions with programme participants and other key stake holders and a survey of the population being evaluated. We recruited 40 drug using women who had been admitted to The Dochas Centre. We re-interviewed these women 6 months later and had full follow up information on 75% and contact information on 97.5% of our original cohort. We found the strongest positive outcomes among the crime variables and varying positive improvements in drug use and treatment. Physical and mental health showed only minor improvements. Associated with the improvements were very significant negative risks. In particular, the risk of death, overdose, self harm and homelessness. During the 6 month follow up period 3 (7.5%) of our original cohort of 40 women passed away. In spite of the negative risks we can imply from our results that the 6 month period did have a positive impact on key outcome measures and that the women showed some improvement at that time