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Abstract: 

Women in North America with a history of being incarcerated are four to five times more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Nevertheless, and although it is one of the few cancers for which screening can have a major impact on prevention, there are several factors that affect the intent or ability of incarcerated women to have cervical screenings and adhere to follow-up recommendations. Our literature review this issue summarizes the results of “Cervical Cancer Screening Among Incarcerated Women,” by Patricia J. Kelly, Molly Allison, and Megha Ramaswamy, published in PLoS ONE. We also review “Mass Incarceration and Pulmonary Health: Guidance for Clinicians” by Elizabeth M. Viglianti, Theodore J. Iwashyna, and Tyler N. A. Winkelman, published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society. It is well-known that, over the past thirty years, there has been dramatic increase in the numbers of incarcerated individuals in the U.S. and, also, that this group suffers from higher rates of chronic diseases. Elizabeth M. Viglianti, Theodore J. Iwashyna, and Tyler N. A. Winkelman wrote their article “[t]o inform pulmonary clinicians who care for patients with a history of incarceration [by] 1) describe[ing] common pulmonary conditions among individuals with a history of incarceration; 2) examin[ing] appropriate incarceration-related screening questions and practices; and 3) identify[ing] barriers to care for individuals re-entering the community.”

Keywords: Cervical Cancer Screening; Pulmonary Disease among Prisoners

Affiliations:  1: Pace University Law School.