Psycho-social challenges of women who are serving their sentence in prison with their children: a case study at Chikurubi Female Prison in Harare

Abstract

The study sought to explore the psycho-social challenges of women who are serving their sentence in prison with their children. The respondents were obtained using convenience and purposive sampling techniques, 10 respondents were interviewed and questionnaires were administered to 3 key informants. Considering that women are the most vulnerable people when it comes to their children, researching about the psycho-social well-being of women who are serving their sentence in prison was essential. The results of the study revealed that women in prison with their children suffered from psycho-social challenges such as depression, stress, low self-esteem, trauma and poor mental health. The study also finds out that the psycho-social challenges which were faced by women in prison are fostered by detrimental prison environment, living conditions and poor asses to basic needs. The researcher was able to find out that the women who are serving their sentence in prison with their children receives support system form the government, non-governmental organisation and relatives. The study recommends the government should work in ensuring that that the ZPCS has its own maternity wing at the prison clinic and the government should also consider the construction or renovation of female prisons that address the gender specific needs of pregnant and nursing mothers. There is also need for information dissemination and stakeholder engagement to improve the psycho-social support and health of women serving their prison sentence with their children.