Design. An integrative review of available Australian peer reviewed literature was conducted to understand the barriers to optimal health care for women, and to inform a model of nursing that would provide continuity of care for women with a diagnosed health condition, post release.

Methods. Using Whittemore and Knafl’s integrative review framework as a guide to data analysis and evaluation provided the wide range of concepts relating to barriers and enablers facing women leaving prison. Further, the framework provided the ability to review theories and provided evidence for policymakers to view women leaving prison as a vulnerable group who would benefit from transitional nursing care support.

Conclusion. Women released from prison are at high risk of preventative death and subsequent reincarceration due to cumulative disadvantage. The limited Australian literature evidenced the women’s unmet health needs and uncovered the barriers they face in maintaining their health and wellness after a period of incarceration. The review findings support the need for a Nurse Navigator model of care management to provide individualised care management, and promote health and systems literacy, specifically to this group of women.

Methods. A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was applied. Health-related quality of life was measured by the Fertility Quality of Life Tool (FertiQoL). Participants were asked to rate how frequently or how well the particular statements refl ect their feelings and thoughts. The study population consisted of men (38%) and women (62%) who attended the Reproductive Medicine Center of the University Hospital in Lithuania. In total, 162 respondents participated in the study.

Results. Signifi cant differences in the answers of men and women about their quality of life were found. Analysis of the data revealed that men had better emotional quality of life than women (P = 0.001). Physical health and behavior of men were signifi cantly less affected by fertility problems compared with women (P < 0.001). Fertility treatment and its quality had a greater impact on women’s quality of life than on men’s (P = 0.009). Mood swings due to infertility between hope and despair were more common in women (P = 0.008) than in men. Women were also more likely to feel drained or worn out due to infertility issues (P < 0.001).

Conclusions. The comparison of the quality of life between infertile men and women revealed that men’s quality of life was rated higher than women’s in all assessed areas. Negative emotions arising because of infertility were the most important part of the infertility-related deterioration in the quality of life for both men and women.