Physical And Mental Health Of The Children With Incarcerated Mothers In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: A Sociological Analysis

Abstract

This paper examines the physical and mental health of those innocent children who are experiencing jail life with their incarcerated mothers in different jails of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. These children are without the commission of any delinquent acts but are prone to undergo the jail life for the crimes of mothers discharging their looking after responsibilities. This study was conducted in four jails of the province, which include Peshawar, Bannu, Timargara and Mansehra. It was a qualitative study proceeded with 15 case studies conducted with jailed mothers through census method, and 46 in-depth interviews taken from the incarcerated mothers with children, jail staff, representatives of the Child Protection Commission, lawyers, children with jailed mothers, and jail based-female psychologists, physicians and school teachers. It was found that children in jail were suffering from physical problems in the degraded environment of the jails in the shape of eye burning and sight, dermatological issues like scabies and itching, asthma, muscular pains, rickets, bodily growth in view of ill-nutrient foods, irritation in conversation, insomnia and overall immunization-related issues at sampled jails. They also faced mental disorders like depression, anxiety, attention-deficit, loneliness, agonized state of future apart from imbalanced personality like behavioral problems in the shape of aggression and disrespect etc. The study recommends the availability of proper medical care, well-nutrient foods, counseling, recreational and rehabilitation facilities for children with their jailed mothers.