Women constitute a special group within prisons because of their sex. Although the characteristics and corresponding needs of women prisoners can vary considerably between countries, several factors are common to most. These include many mental disorders, a high level of drug or alcohol dependence, many women experiencing sexual and physical abuse and violence before or in prison, the neglect of gender-specific health care needs and additional issues related to the women’s responsibility for children and families. Many women in prison have young children for whom they were often the primary or sole carer before they entered prison. .
