R. Jiménez-Vinaja, M. Imbernón, A. Parés-Bayerri, G. Oña, Ò. Parés, JC Bouso
Abstract Objectives To assess the perceived health and quality of life, perceived social support, prison life, and cannabis use among a sample of inmates in Spanish prisons. Material and methods We hosted a discussion with inmates in order to learn their reasons for using cannabis (phase 1). Then, a questionnaire was prepared specifically for this study (phase 2), containing indicators from the Catalan Health Survey and other items regarding patterns of cannabis use and life in prison. The questionnaire was administered by the authors to a sample of Catalan inmates. Results and discussion A sample of 63 inmates completed the questionnaire. Cannabis was used mainly for therapeutic purposes, which can be interpreted as a coping strategy related to the stress associated with prison life. Nearly half of the subjects used cannabis as a substitute for prescription medications and illicit drugs. It was found that the only variable that predicted self-perceived health status was the number of visits inmates received. This suggests that social support is a key factor for improving the health and well-being of inmates. Cannabis use in prison seems to be related to coping with a challenging context. The benefits and risks of this practice need to be further researched.
{"title":"Jailhouse rock: Health status, patterns of use, and subjective benefits of cannabis use in a sample of inmates in Spanish prisons","authors":"R. Jiménez-Vinaja, M. Imbernón, A. Parés-Bayerri, G. Oña, Ò. Parés, JC Bouso","doi":"10.18176/resp.00044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00044","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objectives To assess the perceived health and quality of life, perceived social support, prison life, and cannabis use among a sample of inmates in Spanish prisons. Material and methods We hosted a discussion with inmates in order to learn their reasons for using cannabis (phase 1). Then, a questionnaire was prepared specifically for this study (phase 2), containing indicators from the Catalan Health Survey and other items regarding patterns of cannabis use and life in prison. The questionnaire was administered by the authors to a sample of Catalan inmates. Results and discussion A sample of 63 inmates completed the questionnaire. Cannabis was used mainly for therapeutic purposes, which can be interpreted as a coping strategy related to the stress associated with prison life. Nearly half of the subjects used cannabis as a substitute for prescription medications and illicit drugs. It was found that the only variable that predicted self-perceived health status was the number of visits inmates received. This suggests that social support is a key factor for improving the health and well-being of inmates. Cannabis use in prison seems to be related to coping with a challenging context. The benefits and risks of this practice need to be further researched.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"24 1","pages":"9 - 14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67718849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Objectives To establish concordance between transient elastography (TE) and non invasive markers (NIM) APRI and FIB-4 combination in cronic hepatitis C (HC) patients with non-advanced liver fibrosis (NALF). Material and method Multi-centre retrospective study carried out at two different Barcelona Prisons HC inmates who had the TE done at 2019. We compared the ET vs. NIM results. The NALF consideration was ≤2 (≤12.5 Kilopascal (kPa) in TE). In the NALF cases was calculated de NIM APRI and FIB-4 and the kappa index agreement was established between TE and NIM. Results 107 cases were included, but only 82 were assessable. The average age was 42 (DS: ±3.2) years. The 96.5% were men, 51.2% spanish, 70.7% drug users and 39% HIV co infected. The 45.1% of those HC infected had genotipe 1. The 90.2% of the evaluated patients by TE the ALD was not detected. The kappa index was 0.78. 65 (79.3%) studied inmates got HC treatment. The 20.7% could not be treated because the evaluation was not completed. Conclusion Most of the HC infected inmates have no ALD, and in such cases concordance between NIM/TE is substantial. The NIM can be used to shorten the evaluation time and prescribe the treatment faster, especially if the length of stay in prison is short and risk of transmission is high.
{"title":"Substantial concordance between transient elastography and APRI and FIB-4 combination amongst hepatitis C inmates with non advanced liver fibrosis","authors":"E. Yela, N. Sole, S. Quintero","doi":"10.18176/resp.00047","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00047","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objectives To establish concordance between transient elastography (TE) and non invasive markers (NIM) APRI and FIB-4 combination in cronic hepatitis C (HC) patients with non-advanced liver fibrosis (NALF). Material and method Multi-centre retrospective study carried out at two different Barcelona Prisons HC inmates who had the TE done at 2019. We compared the ET vs. NIM results. The NALF consideration was ≤2 (≤12.5 Kilopascal (kPa) in TE). In the NALF cases was calculated de NIM APRI and FIB-4 and the kappa index agreement was established between TE and NIM. Results 107 cases were included, but only 82 were assessable. The average age was 42 (DS: ±3.2) years. The 96.5% were men, 51.2% spanish, 70.7% drug users and 39% HIV co infected. The 45.1% of those HC infected had genotipe 1. The 90.2% of the evaluated patients by TE the ALD was not detected. The kappa index was 0.78. 65 (79.3%) studied inmates got HC treatment. The 20.7% could not be treated because the evaluation was not completed. Conclusion Most of the HC infected inmates have no ALD, and in such cases concordance between NIM/TE is substantial. The NIM can be used to shorten the evaluation time and prescribe the treatment faster, especially if the length of stay in prison is short and risk of transmission is high.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"24 1","pages":"33 - 37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67719002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Objectives To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of inmates who were infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons from April to October 2020. Material and method Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study with a secondary data source. All the inmates who were infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons during the study period were considered. The information was collected through the validated data collection sheet and was analyzed with descriptive statistics applying the SPSS v26 software. Results 37,103 (42.3%) inmates were analyzed out of a prison population of 87,754. All of them reactive to the rapid test, with a mean age of 39.9 ± 12.6 years; 95.5% were male. 60.1% were IgG reactive; 36.1% were IgM/IgG reactive and 3.8% were IgM reactive. 20.1% of reactive inmates had COVID-19 symptoms at the time of testing. The most frequent symptoms were headache (55.6%), general malaise (49.7%), fever (49.0%) and cough (48.0%). Among the risk factors for COVID-19 were: age over 60 years (8.4%), high blood pressure (2.8%) and diabetes mellitus (2.4%). 445 deaths were registered. Total fatality reached 1.2% of the number of infected. The highest number of deaths was recorded in April and May (89 and 162, respectively). Discussion The study findings imply different approaches to managing epidemics in the prison context compared to the general population. The short and long term scenarios are uncertain, but the need to reorganize the prison health system, and to prioritise and modernise it are evident. The long-delayed reform of the prison system and the measures that set out to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease in prisons are related processes in this regard.
{"title":"Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of prisoners infected and deceased by COVID-19, National Penitentiary Institute of Peru, 2020","authors":"A. Sindeev, BM Martínez-Álvarez","doi":"10.18176/resp.00045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00045","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objectives To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of inmates who were infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons from April to October 2020. Material and method Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study with a secondary data source. All the inmates who were infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons during the study period were considered. The information was collected through the validated data collection sheet and was analyzed with descriptive statistics applying the SPSS v26 software. Results 37,103 (42.3%) inmates were analyzed out of a prison population of 87,754. All of them reactive to the rapid test, with a mean age of 39.9 ± 12.6 years; 95.5% were male. 60.1% were IgG reactive; 36.1% were IgM/IgG reactive and 3.8% were IgM reactive. 20.1% of reactive inmates had COVID-19 symptoms at the time of testing. The most frequent symptoms were headache (55.6%), general malaise (49.7%), fever (49.0%) and cough (48.0%). Among the risk factors for COVID-19 were: age over 60 years (8.4%), high blood pressure (2.8%) and diabetes mellitus (2.4%). 445 deaths were registered. Total fatality reached 1.2% of the number of infected. The highest number of deaths was recorded in April and May (89 and 162, respectively). Discussion The study findings imply different approaches to managing epidemics in the prison context compared to the general population. The short and long term scenarios are uncertain, but the need to reorganize the prison health system, and to prioritise and modernise it are evident. The long-delayed reform of the prison system and the measures that set out to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease in prisons are related processes in this regard.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"79 1","pages":"15 - 22"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67718918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Introduction There is currently sufficient evidence that health can be created through certain strategies combined and maintained long enough to produce measurable results: this is what is called health promotion. The World Health Organization has promoted programs based on healthy environments; among them we highlight healthy prisons. Living conditions in a penitentiary are extraordinarily specific, and involve limitations that can have significant health consequences. However, prisons can be environments for health, since there is the effective possibility of promoting it. Objectives To analyze the implementation of health promotion in prisons in Catalonia. Material and method Retrospective and observational cross-sectional multi-centre study, carried out on a sample of 29 nurses who worked in the closed-regime prisons in Catalonia between 2019 and 2020. The information collection instrument is made up of an ad-hoc questionnaire (Annex 1). A descriptive analysis of the socio-demographic variables and the variables of the study was carried out. A comparative analysis is performed using correlation and linear regression models. Results 82.8% of those surveyed state that a health promotion project is being carried out in the prison where they work, with mental health being the most carried out programs, followed by tobacco and drug cessation. Discussion The results show that health promotion policies are currently being developed in the Catalan prison environment.
{"title":"Healthy prisons: analysis of health promotion in Catalonian prisons","authors":"S. Chaer-Yemlahi Serroukh, FX Freixenet Ramírez","doi":"10.18176/resp.00046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00046","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Introduction There is currently sufficient evidence that health can be created through certain strategies combined and maintained long enough to produce measurable results: this is what is called health promotion. The World Health Organization has promoted programs based on healthy environments; among them we highlight healthy prisons. Living conditions in a penitentiary are extraordinarily specific, and involve limitations that can have significant health consequences. However, prisons can be environments for health, since there is the effective possibility of promoting it. Objectives To analyze the implementation of health promotion in prisons in Catalonia. Material and method Retrospective and observational cross-sectional multi-centre study, carried out on a sample of 29 nurses who worked in the closed-regime prisons in Catalonia between 2019 and 2020. The information collection instrument is made up of an ad-hoc questionnaire (Annex 1). A descriptive analysis of the socio-demographic variables and the variables of the study was carried out. A comparative analysis is performed using correlation and linear regression models. Results 82.8% of those surveyed state that a health promotion project is being carried out in the prison where they work, with mental health being the most carried out programs, followed by tobacco and drug cessation. Discussion The results show that health promotion policies are currently being developed in the Catalan prison environment.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"24 1","pages":"23 - 32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48220163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scientific contribution of the 13th National Conference and the 21st Symposia of the Spanish Society of Prison Health, held in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid.","authors":"A Marco, R Moreno","doi":"10.18176/resp.00043","DOIUrl":"10.18176/resp.00043","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"24 1","pages":"6-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9017608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48046451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Objective To evaluate mass screening campaigns for tuberculosis in prisoners in Ecuador. Material and method Cross-sectional study of Chronic Cough (CC) detected amongst inmates who entered two prisons in Ecuador between January and December 2016 (n = 12,365). The time distribution of the CCs was analyzed with the uniformity test and its relationship with the diagnosed cases of PTB, the prevalence of PTB was calculated. A logistic regression model was performed to determine the factors modifiers of PTB positivity. Results 1.332 chronic cougher were recorded, the positivity rate was 17.3% (95% CI, 15.1-19.4), and the prevalence was 1.9% (95% CI, 1.6 - 2.1). There was an absence of uniformity in the detection and diagnosis by epidemiological weeks; there was a positive correlation between CC and PTB cases. The positivity rate was associated with the prison with the highest density (adjusted OR 3.8; 95% CI, 2.5-5.5). Discussion Massive screening campaigns are not enough to control tuberculosis in Ecuador’s prisons. The incidence found is high. It is necessary to strengthen the diagnostic process to treat all the cases found and thus break the chain of transmission.
{"title":"Is mass screening enough to control tuberculosis in Ecuador’s prisons?","authors":"I. Valcárcel-Pérez, J. Molina, Z. Fuentes","doi":"10.18176/resp.00038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00038","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective To evaluate mass screening campaigns for tuberculosis in prisoners in Ecuador. Material and method Cross-sectional study of Chronic Cough (CC) detected amongst inmates who entered two prisons in Ecuador between January and December 2016 (n = 12,365). The time distribution of the CCs was analyzed with the uniformity test and its relationship with the diagnosed cases of PTB, the prevalence of PTB was calculated. A logistic regression model was performed to determine the factors modifiers of PTB positivity. Results 1.332 chronic cougher were recorded, the positivity rate was 17.3% (95% CI, 15.1-19.4), and the prevalence was 1.9% (95% CI, 1.6 - 2.1). There was an absence of uniformity in the detection and diagnosis by epidemiological weeks; there was a positive correlation between CC and PTB cases. The positivity rate was associated with the prison with the highest density (adjusted OR 3.8; 95% CI, 2.5-5.5). Discussion Massive screening campaigns are not enough to control tuberculosis in Ecuador’s prisons. The incidence found is high. It is necessary to strengthen the diagnostic process to treat all the cases found and thus break the chain of transmission.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"23 1","pages":"108 - 114"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49447379","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Objective To analyze the different perceptions of professionals about the problem of intellectual disability in the prison setting. Material and method Exploratory-descriptive type. In-depth interviews with legal, social and prison operators of Centro Penitenciario de Zuera (Zaragoza). Results The narratives of the interviewed subjects point to the aggravating circumstances that a closed social environment can entail for inmates with intellectual disabilities. Communications in the prison administration are written in a technical language that is not understandable for inmates with intellectual deficits. Discusion There is a need to give more visibility to the case of inmates with intellectual disabilities. Procedures also need to be applied that favour greater cognitive accessibility for this profile of inmates, along with the promotion of awareness raising and training for professionals to enable them to deal with this issue.
{"title":"Analysis of penitentiary, social and legal operators’ perceptions of prison inmates with intellectual disabilities","authors":"J. García-Martínez, C. Álvarez","doi":"10.18176/resp.00040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00040","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective To analyze the different perceptions of professionals about the problem of intellectual disability in the prison setting. Material and method Exploratory-descriptive type. In-depth interviews with legal, social and prison operators of Centro Penitenciario de Zuera (Zaragoza). Results The narratives of the interviewed subjects point to the aggravating circumstances that a closed social environment can entail for inmates with intellectual disabilities. Communications in the prison administration are written in a technical language that is not understandable for inmates with intellectual deficits. Discusion There is a need to give more visibility to the case of inmates with intellectual disabilities. Procedures also need to be applied that favour greater cognitive accessibility for this profile of inmates, along with the promotion of awareness raising and training for professionals to enable them to deal with this issue.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"79 1","pages":"115 - 118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67718804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Hepatitis B is a parenterally and sexually transmitted infection. Vaccination for the disease is highly effective, and its inclusion in Spain as part of a systematic and universal schedule for newborns has led to a significant decrease of incidence in the national population. However, the number of inmates born in other countries some from endemic areas of HBV infection -, the mechanisms of transmission and lack of vaccination in third world countries mean that its prevalence in the prison population is higher than in the general population. These institutions therefore play an essential role in detecting and managing hepatitis B. In this paper, the situation of hepatitis B in prisons is reviewed and recommendations are proposed to optimize its control.
{"title":"Diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B. What contributions can prisons make?","authors":"M. Vergara","doi":"10.18176/resp.00041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00041","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Hepatitis B is a parenterally and sexually transmitted infection. Vaccination for the disease is highly effective, and its inclusion in Spain as part of a systematic and universal schedule for newborns has led to a significant decrease of incidence in the national population. However, the number of inmates born in other countries some from endemic areas of HBV infection -, the mechanisms of transmission and lack of vaccination in third world countries mean that its prevalence in the prison population is higher than in the general population. These institutions therefore play an essential role in detecting and managing hepatitis B. In this paper, the situation of hepatitis B in prisons is reviewed and recommendations are proposed to optimize its control.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"16 1","pages":"119 - 127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67718817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Maestro-González, M. Sánchez-Zaballos, M. Mosteiro-Díaz, D. Zuazua-Rico
Abstract Objective To analyze the reasons for seeking emergency medical care amongst prison inmates and their relationship to sociodemographic characteristics. Material and method An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out. We collected the sociodemographic variables of inmates and their healthcare needs at the referral hospital over nine years. Results A total of 972 hospital visits were included. The most common healthcare needs, in descending order, were multiple trauma, limb problems and dyspnea. Mondays and Wednesdays were found to be the busiest days (P <0.001). The average stay in cases of hospitalization was 6.1 (SD: 4.3) days; patients with nontraumatic healthcare needs required a longer stay. The majority of the inmates native to Africa, Asia and America received emergency healthcare services due to traumatic injuries; by contrast the most common injuries among Europeans were non-traumatic and unrelated to suicide attempts (P <0.001). European inmates were on average 4.2 years older than Africans and 4.7 years older than American inmates (P <0.001). Discussion The reasons for seeking emergency care are clearly differentiated according to the inmates’ nationality, one notable outcome was the greater longevity of European internees. These results highlight the importance of understanding healthcare demand within the prison system in order to better address considerations such as prevention, organization and the location of healthcare units.
{"title":"Analysis of Emergency Healthcare Demand in a Prison","authors":"A. Maestro-González, M. Sánchez-Zaballos, M. Mosteiro-Díaz, D. Zuazua-Rico","doi":"10.18176/resp.00037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00037","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective To analyze the reasons for seeking emergency medical care amongst prison inmates and their relationship to sociodemographic characteristics. Material and method An observational, descriptive and retrospective study was carried out. We collected the sociodemographic variables of inmates and their healthcare needs at the referral hospital over nine years. Results A total of 972 hospital visits were included. The most common healthcare needs, in descending order, were multiple trauma, limb problems and dyspnea. Mondays and Wednesdays were found to be the busiest days (P <0.001). The average stay in cases of hospitalization was 6.1 (SD: 4.3) days; patients with nontraumatic healthcare needs required a longer stay. The majority of the inmates native to Africa, Asia and America received emergency healthcare services due to traumatic injuries; by contrast the most common injuries among Europeans were non-traumatic and unrelated to suicide attempts (P <0.001). European inmates were on average 4.2 years older than Africans and 4.7 years older than American inmates (P <0.001). Discussion The reasons for seeking emergency care are clearly differentiated according to the inmates’ nationality, one notable outcome was the greater longevity of European internees. These results highlight the importance of understanding healthcare demand within the prison system in order to better address considerations such as prevention, organization and the location of healthcare units.","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"8 1","pages":"91 - 97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67718789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
88 Current estimates give figures of approximately 240 million people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). The distribution of the disease is very heterogeneous, with a more marked prevalence (high prevalence = ≥8% of the population) in countries in Africa and South East Asia1. HBV infection is responsible for most cases of cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide, which have a considerable impact on healthcare resources. In Spain, despite the prevention campaigns implemented through health education and screening of pregnant women and high risk groups, and the establishment of universal vaccination in the nineties2, current prevalence is estimated curren prevalence is estimated to be at around 0.2-1.7%, making Spain a country with low endemicity (<2% of the population with infection)3. This prevalence has increased in recent years, probably as a result of migratory movements of persons who have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B or who come from countries with high levels of endemicity. Improved notification of cases may also be another factor4. A recent study on adults who went to the Emergency Department of a university hospital in Catalonia with symptoms compatible with acute hepatitis showed that HBV infection was the main aetiological cause5. One third of cases were immigrants from countries with no vaccination programmes, and sexual transmission was found to be the main associated risk factor. The fact that chronic hepatitis B is an asymptomatic infection up to the advanced stages of liver disease, implies that many persons are unaware of being infected. There are also cases of patients who know that they are infected and do not receive adequate monitoring. The WHO estimates that less than 5% of the individuals infected with HBV in low-income countries are aware of the diagnosis6. Therefore, screening and linkage to care programs for patients with hepatitis B, especially in certain high risk groups, would help to prevent the disease from progressing, which in turn would have a highly positive impact on public health. The possibility of preventing further progression of liver disease and the resulting complications led to the WHO approving the 2016 Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis B and C by 20307. The program includes a wide range of strategies, many of which are focused on prisons. As Vergara M8, comments in her study, prisons represent an opportunity for screening, treatment and monitoring of a number of pathologies, and for discovering more about their natural history, since they include groups where the prevalence of diseases associated with certain risk factors is greater than in the community. This scenario is well known in the case of hepatitis C, where several strategies of microelimination in prisons have been put into effect in a number of Spanish prisons with excellent results and highly valued experience9. There is a large amount of data to support the benefits of such programs in terms of diagno
{"title":"Prisons: an important link in the elimination of Hepatitis B","authors":"A. Barreira-Díaz, M. Buti","doi":"10.18176/resp.00036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.18176/resp.00036","url":null,"abstract":"88 Current estimates give figures of approximately 240 million people with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). The distribution of the disease is very heterogeneous, with a more marked prevalence (high prevalence = ≥8% of the population) in countries in Africa and South East Asia1. HBV infection is responsible for most cases of cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide, which have a considerable impact on healthcare resources. In Spain, despite the prevention campaigns implemented through health education and screening of pregnant women and high risk groups, and the establishment of universal vaccination in the nineties2, current prevalence is estimated curren prevalence is estimated to be at around 0.2-1.7%, making Spain a country with low endemicity (<2% of the population with infection)3. This prevalence has increased in recent years, probably as a result of migratory movements of persons who have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B or who come from countries with high levels of endemicity. Improved notification of cases may also be another factor4. A recent study on adults who went to the Emergency Department of a university hospital in Catalonia with symptoms compatible with acute hepatitis showed that HBV infection was the main aetiological cause5. One third of cases were immigrants from countries with no vaccination programmes, and sexual transmission was found to be the main associated risk factor. The fact that chronic hepatitis B is an asymptomatic infection up to the advanced stages of liver disease, implies that many persons are unaware of being infected. There are also cases of patients who know that they are infected and do not receive adequate monitoring. The WHO estimates that less than 5% of the individuals infected with HBV in low-income countries are aware of the diagnosis6. Therefore, screening and linkage to care programs for patients with hepatitis B, especially in certain high risk groups, would help to prevent the disease from progressing, which in turn would have a highly positive impact on public health. The possibility of preventing further progression of liver disease and the resulting complications led to the WHO approving the 2016 Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis B and C by 20307. The program includes a wide range of strategies, many of which are focused on prisons. As Vergara M8, comments in her study, prisons represent an opportunity for screening, treatment and monitoring of a number of pathologies, and for discovering more about their natural history, since they include groups where the prevalence of diseases associated with certain risk factors is greater than in the community. This scenario is well known in the case of hepatitis C, where several strategies of microelimination in prisons have been put into effect in a number of Spanish prisons with excellent results and highly valued experience9. There is a large amount of data to support the benefits of such programs in terms of diagno","PeriodicalId":30044,"journal":{"name":"Revista Espanola de Sanidad Penitenciaria","volume":"23 1","pages":"88 - 90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"67718773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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