California Health Professional Student Alliance (CaHPSA)

As the number of incarcerated women in the United States increases, it is important to address the persistent lack of care for women’s health. Research is only beginning to be done on how the health needs of incarcerated women are equal or even greater than that of non-incarcerated women. In and out of prisons, proper reproductive care is a basic, undeniable human right to have. In this literature review, we aim to raise awareness about the current state of reproductive care in prison settings. Comprehensive reproductive care includes access to sexual health supplies, menstrual products, prenatal care, and OB-GYN appointments, which are currently almost absent or dismally deficient in prisons. When considering the population of incarcerated women, it is important to keep in mind the systemic inequalities that have already made women of these socioeconomic backgrounds more susceptible to harm due to an inability to access health insurance and higher risks for infectious diseases. Preventative medical care such as STI testing and quality menstruation products, in addition to prenatal care for expecting mothers, is severely lacking. The experiences of transgender women reveal inadequacies in structural policies and consideration for mental health. In order to reform our prison systems to become more rehabilitative, we propose implementing structural interventions that account for a comprehensive reproductive healthcare system within prisons. This includes the enforcement of stricter accreditation for physicians working in prisons, utilization of telehealth, and comprehensive sexual and reproductive care protocol.

In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying outbreaks, the controversy of mandatory vaccination is again brought under scrutiny. Although it has been well researched within the scientific community that vaccination is a simple and safe procedure, it continues to face outlash and distrust within societal communities. This literature review is a study of the current perspectives within pro and anti vaccination groups. From childhood illnesses to vaccine production, school mandates to minor consent, these and many more factors influence the current outlook and attitudes of the American general public towards vaccines. From this examination, we propose an actionable solution for the government, public health officials, and individual people. By fact checking widely held myths about vaccination and enforcing stricter standards in academic spheres for life threatening illnesses, we can improve the overall health and livelihood of our communities. In today’s public health crisis, it is paramount for people to understand the methodology behind mass immunity and also provide alternatives to those who may have valid reasons against vaccination.

Hospice care amongst the elderly is not uncommon, as it specifically focuses on improving and supporting the lives of those who are either terminally ill or unable to support themselves. Over one million individuals are admitted into hospice care centers every year, and the numbers have only increased with time. However, this increase in patient quantity is accompanied with a higher risk of elder abuse within the hospice industry as a whole, as demonstrated by the five million older Americans who are abused every year. 1 Elder abuse within hospice settings is a public health issue that is not widely discussed. The abuse can appear in many forms and in all locations of patient care, from the home environment to hospice facilities. Elder abuse is wide ranging and includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect and abandonment. Older individuals, especially those who depend on care from others, are especially vulnerable to such abuse. In this literature review, we aim to uncover the truth about elder abuse in various healthcare settings. We begin with current research findings and general knowledge about elder abuse. Next, we address nonprofit versus for-profit hospice centers, as well as the responsibilities of the healthcare team to speak out against abuse. In doing so, we then propose direct, actionable solutions that are in the process or being implemented or should be implemented in order to prevent further abuse of the elderly.