Page No: 304-309
Hina Javed Rana and Nashi Khan
University of Punjab-Lahore, Pakistan
The increase in the rates of self-harming among women prisoners has been catching
the attention of researchers. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-harm
among Pakistani women prisoners before and during their imprisonment. It also aimed
to estimate the reasons for self-harm among women prisoners. The study sample
comprised 38 women prisoners. A Structured Interview Performa and Deliberate SelfHarm Inventory was used to assess self-harm, its types, and reasons. Results showed
that majority (f = 25) of women prisoners had the history of self-harm before their
imprisonment. Majority (f = 27) of women prisoners had mental distress which served
as an antecedent for their self-harming behavior. Before imprisonment, majority (f = 20)
of women prisoners harm themselves by banging their heads and prevent their wounds
from healing. During imprisonment, ways of self-harm mostly include punching oneself,
stopping to eat, and hitting hands badly on fl oor. The results highlight the importance of
forensic psychologist and psychological intervention in prison setting for reducing the
incidence of self-ham among women prisoners