Facebook as a follow-up tool for women with criminal justice histories
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 8 April 2020
Issue publication date: 7 May 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to measure Facebook (FB) use as a tool for maintaining research contact with hard-to-reach women with criminal justice histories.
Design/methodology/approach
Retrospective data were analyzed from a jail health intervention. Bivariate analysis compared the rates of follow-up between FB group users and non-FB group users at one post-intervention time point. Multivariate models explored predictors for FB group follow-up.
Findings
Among 184 participants, 89 (48.4%) used the private research FB group. This group was more likely to complete the follow-up survey one year after enrollment compared to non-FB group users (P = 0.002). Regression analyses showed that, compared to non-FB group users, FB group users were more likely to be younger and have a history of sexually transmitted infections.
Practical implications
FB is popular among women with criminal justice histories. Use of this social media site with study participants from hard-to-reach populations may enhance study retention.
Originality/value
This paper fills a gap in examining the long-term use of FB as a research strategy to maintain contain with typically hard-to-reach populations.
Keywords
Citation
Lipnicky, A., Kelly, P.J. and Ramaswamy, M. (2020), "Facebook as a follow-up tool for women with criminal justice histories", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 16 No. 2, pp. 117-122. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-08-2019-0042
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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