Chapter One: Introduction                                                                          1

1.1      Background to the Study                                                                  1

1.11    Sexual Health, Needs and Behavior of Female Inmates                      2

1.2      Statement of Problems                                                                     3

1.3      Research Questions                                                                          4

1.4      Aims and Objectives of Study                                                           4

1.5      Justification of Study                                                                        5

1.6      Scope of Study                                                                                 6

Chapter Two: Literature Review                                                                 7

2.1      Introduction                                                                                     7

2.2      Human Sexuality                                                                             8

2.3      Sexual Health                                                                                  10

2.4      Sexual Health and Gender                                                                11

2.4.1   Male Sexual Health Challenges                                                        12

2.4.2   Female Sexual Health Challenges                                                     12

2.5      Prisons as a Total Institution                                                             13

2.6      Nigeria Prisons                                                                                14

2.7      Impediments Faced By the Nigeria Prison System (NPS)                     16

2.8      Female Inmates in The Nigerian Prison                                             18

2.8.1   Challenges and Coping Mechanisms of Female Inmates                      19

2.8.2   Sexual Needs and Health of Nigerian Female Prisoners                      20

2.8.3   Solutions to Sexual Health Problems of the Female Prisoners                 22

2.9      Theoretical Framework                                                                    23

2.9.1   Deprivation Model                                                                           23

2.9.2   Importation Model                                                                           23

2.9.3   Social Learning Theory                                                                    24

2.9.4   Synthesis of Adopted Theory                                                            24

2.9.5   Conclusion                                                                                      25

Chapter Three: Research Design and Methodology                                      26

3.0      Introduction                                                                                     26

3.1      Research Design                                                                              26

3.2      Research Location                                                                           26

3.3      Population of Study                                                                          27

3.4      Sample Size and Procedures                                                             27

3.5      Methods of Data Collection                                                              27

3.6      Procedures for Data Collection                                                         27

3.7      Problems Encountered During the Field Work                                   28

3.8      Project Appraisal                                                                             28

Chapter Four: Data Presentation and Analysis                                             30

4.0      Introduction                                                                                     30

4.1      Socio Demographic Characteristics of Respondents                           31

4.2      Inmates Perception of Their Imprisonment                                        31

4.3      Sexual Health Challenges Faced By Inmates                                     33

4.4      Mechanisms Adopted To Cope With the Sexual Needs Neglect         34

4.5      Effects of Sexual Needs Deprivation on Female Inmates                     35

4.6      Discussion on Findings                                                                     36

4.7      Summary on Findings                                                                      37

Chapter Five: Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation                          39

5.1      Summary                                                                                         39

5.2      Conclusion                                                                                      40

5.3      Recommendations                                                                            40

5.4      Suggestion for Further Studies                                                          42

          References                                                                                      43

Appendix: Interview Guide                                                                         47

The plight of female prisoners has been a subject for discourse due to the inhumane treatments meted out to them, female inmates also suffer a lot of deprivation while in prison which has dire consequence on their health status, this study investigated the sexual needs neglects of female inmates and the behavior that is being exhibited by the inmates as a result of the lacks.

A sample of 22 women inmates were selected from the two prison locations: Ibarra prison &Ijebu Ode prison in Ogun state, a purposive sampling technique was used which consisted of inmates that have spent up to six months within the prison environment. The study sought to ascertain the inmates’ sexual needs on the basis of age, length of time spent and status (convicted/awaiting trails).The study designed an in depth interview guide (IDI) and a Key-Informant Interview (KII) guide to generate data for the study. The responses were analyzed using thematic headings. 

Results showed that the sexual needs of the female inmates under incarceration ranges from balanced meal to hygienic sanitary area, adequate health facilities and female sanitary materials and some behaviors that results from the lack of the needs are depression, masturbation, anger which turns to violence amongst them at times. It further indicated that the female prison system is structured in a way that makes inmates who have spent close to five years and of old age to forget about their sexual needs as females.

The sexual needs of female prisoners have received little or no attention, and continued to be neglected by the government and prison authorities because they are minority among prison population. It is in light of this study, the researcher recommends that that there is a need for well-trained gynaecological doctors and clinical psychologists within the prison environment who will help in providing the prison officials with the needs of female in incarceration and also assess the inmates regularly in ensuring their sexual needs and health requirements are met.

Word Count: 329

Key Words: Female inmates, sexual health, sexual needs