Predictors of post-release research retention and subsequent reenrollment for women recruited while incarcerated

Correctional facilities are prime targets for nursing interventions to decrease health disparities, but challenges to post‐release follow‐up limit use of the longitudinal research designs needed to fully examine intervention effects. Using an adapted version of the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, we determined predictors of 1‐year post‐release study retention and subsequent reenrollment an average of 3 years later in 88 mother and child dyads recruited from a state prison nursery. Predisposing characteristics and enabling factors emerged as strong predictors of loss to follow‐up. Female research participants can be successfully retained years after release from a correctional facility. Understanding the barriers and facilitators to post‐release follow‐up supports the creation of theoretically informed strategies to retain formerly incarcerated populations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 35:94–104, 2012