Adjudicated health: incarcerated women and the social construction of health

Women in prison have been identified as one of the most vulnerable groups o f women in society. This study examined the social construction of health t hrough weekly interviews with 20 incarcerated women over 15 months. The stu dy was grounded within a critical hermeneutic context using interpretive me thods for data analysis. Adjudicated health reflects the social constructio n of health for women prior to and during imprisonment, and is dually groun ded in protection and punishment - a construction in direct apposition to t he department of correction's conceptualization of health. Implications for the health of women during imprisonment and post-release are discussed.