Social Environment and Hospitalisation after Release from Prison: A Prospective Cohort Study

Alexander D. Love, Stuart A. Kinner and Jesse T. Young
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Alexander D. Love: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne 3010, Australia
Stuart A. Kinner: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne 3010, Australia
Jesse T. Young: Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne 3010, Australia

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: This study examined the association between remoteness and area disadvantage, and the rate of subsequent hospitalisation, in a cohort of adults released from prisons in Queensland. A baseline survey of 1267 adult prisoners within 6 weeks of expected release was prospectively linked with hospital, mortality and reincarceration records. Postcodes were used to assign remoteness and area disadvantage categories. Multivariate Andersen–Gill regression models were fitted to test for associations between remoteness, area disadvantage and hospitalisation after release from prison. Over a total of 3090.9 person-years of follow-up, the highest crude incidence rates were observed in areas characterised by remoteness and area disadvantage (crude incidence rate (IR) = 649; 95%CI: 526–791), followed by remoteness only (IR = 420; 95%CI: 349–501), severe area disadvantage only (IR = 403; 95%CI: 351–461), and neither of these factors (IR = 361; 95%CI: 336–388). Unadjusted analyses indicated that remoteness (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.32; 95%CI: 1.04–1.69; p = 0.024) was associated with increased risk of hospitalisation; however, this attenuated to the null after adjustment for covariate factors. The incidence of hospitalisation for those who live in remote or socio-economically disadvantaged areas is increased compared to their counterparts in more urban and less socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Experiencing both these factors together may compound the hospitalisation in the community.

Keywords: hospitalization; health equity; health priorities; health services; environmental health; population health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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