International journal of prison health最新文献

Purpose: This study aims to assess undernutrition and associated factors among prisoners in Bahir Dar Zone Prison Center, Ethiopia, in 2021.

Design/methodology/approach: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 582 prisoners from October 1 to October 30, 2021. An interviewer-administered, semistructured questionnaire was used to collect the required data. The body mass index (BMI) was assessed to determine the nutritional status of prisoners. Data were entered into Epi-Info statistical software version 7 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with undernutrition. In multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significant. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the strength of the association.

Findings: The prevalence of undernutrition was 17.5% (95% CI: 14.3, 21). Imprisonment history (AOR: 4.98, 95% CI: 2.80, 8.86), history of cigarette smoking (AOR: 5.38, 95% CI: 2.86, 10.13), imprisonment duration (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.19), diarrheal diseases (AOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.41), depression (AOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.88, 5.57) and poor social support (AOR: 7.09, 95% CI: 3.57, 14.05) were factors significantly increasing the odds of undernutrition.

Originality/value: This manuscript is an original research article that was conducted by using primary data. The finding of the study implies that the magnitude of undernutrition among prisoners in the Bahir Dar Prison Center was found to be lower than the general population in Ethiopia. Therefore, this paper recommended behavioral change intervention, promotion of mental support and health education, cessation of cigarette smoking and management of diarrheal disease.

Purpose: A settings-based approach to health promotion emphasizes everyday environments in shaping health. Prisons are, therefore, potentially important arenas for health promotion. However, the inherent restriction of prisoner agency presents a fundamental challenge in this regard. There is a gap in qualitative research on prisoners' perspectives on health-related topics and a need for greater understanding of health promotion within prisons. This study aims to explore male prisoners' experiences of a Norwegian low-security prison as a setting for health promotion.

Design/methodology/approach: This study was conducted in Forest Prison, a Norwegian low-security facility for 125 male prisoners. The prison offers various amenities and activities to prepare inmates for reintegration into society. The research used semi-structured interviews with 20 diverse prisoners. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Gale et al.'s framework method.

Findings: This study revealed varied prisoner perspectives on Forest Prison as a setting for health promotion. In prisoners' talk, the importance of agency was evident. Restricted agency triggered negative emotions and distrust, while extended agency fostered trust and wellbeing. Although Forest Prison provides a considerable degree of agency, some prisoners did not fully benefit from this agentic context because of disparities in resources.

Originality/value: Initiatives across three areas of action will strengthen Forest Prison as a setting for health promotion: extending agency, empowering prisoners and developing a prison culture with positive social relationships, effective communication and information flow. The findings of this study provide theoretical insights beyond the specific context, which can serve as a basis for developing prisons as health promoting settings.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the obesity and cardiometabolic disease risks of incarcerated men and to determine the related factors.

Design/methodology/approach: This study was cross-sectional and 139 incarcerated men were included. Data were collected using a questionnaire containing the Descriptive Information Form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The incarcerated men' body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were evaluated. The significance level of statistical tests was accepted as p < 0.05.

Findings: According to BMI, the rates of incarcerated men with overweight were 53.2% and with obesity were 13.7%. Their cardiometabolic disease risk according to waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio was 47.5%, 53.2% and 73.4%, respectively. The cardiometabolic disease risk was 2.66 times higher in the married and 3.71 times higher in those with senior high school or lower education according to waist circumference, and 4.16 times higher in those who were in the aged = 40 years according to the waist-to-hip ratio, 3.49 times higher in those who were in the aged = 40 years and 4.26 times higher in those with senior high school or lower education according to the waist-to-height ratio.

Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first study in which obesity and the risk of cardiometabolic disease in incarcerated men was investigated in Türkiye. In the incarcerated individuals, there was an association between the increased cardiometabolic diseases risk and variables such as older age, being married and having senior high school or lower education.

Purpose: This paper aims to describe the development and validation of the Prison Fellowship Well-being index (PF-WBI), a new quantitative tool for assessing prisoner and staff well-being within prison cultures.

Design/methodology/approach: The PF-WBI was developed through an iterative process of item creation, administration alongside established well-being measures and a series of data analyses. Data was collected from both staff and prisoners (n = 989) across four North Dakota prisons.

Findings: Analysis supported a four-factor structure for the PF-WBI measuring motivation/self-esteem, relationships/community functioning, hope/mood and stress-related detriments. The PF-WBI demonstrated excellent internal consistency reliability, convergent validity with established well-being measures and criterion-related validity for both staff and prisoners. Measurement invariance across staff and prisoners was also confirmed.

Originality/value: The PF-WBI offers a new and versatile tool for researchers and practitioners to assess staff and prisoner well-being in correctional settings. It can be used to evaluate prison cultures and the effectiveness of culture improvement efforts.

Purpose: Suicide in prisons accounts for about half of all prison deaths globally. A bibliometric analysis would indicate research output and potential contributors in the sector, which has not been conducted previously. The purpose of this paper was to conduct a bibliometric analysis to understand the patterns, trends and gaps in research on this issue.

Design/methodology/approach: The PubMed database was searched by using the terms: (suicide) AND ((Prison) OR (prisoner) OR (incarceration)). A bibliometric analysis was done with the help of Harvard Catalyst, PubMed PubReMiner and biblioshiny.

Findings: A total of 1,683 publications were identified in the PubMed database from 1949 to 2024, with an annual growth rate of 4.4% and a Hirsch index of 46. Journal articles were the top publications with the highest number in the journal Crisis. The USA published the highest number of articles, and countries with low income showed much less production.

Originality/value: Prison suicide is not well-researched worldwide. The majority of the studies are published in high-income countries. An interdisciplinary outlook and more intervention-based and longitudinal studies are required in this field. Importantly, more research in low- and middle-income countries is required to understand mental health issues and prevent suicide in prisons.

Purpose: This scoping review aims to evaluate the impact of physical activity interventions on the well-being of incarcerated individuals. It seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of existing research on various forms of physical activity, including structured exercise programs, yoga and mindfulness, and their effects on both mental and physical health within prison populations.

Design/methodology/approach: A scoping review was conducted by searching Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science in June 2024. Keywords used included "physical activity," "exercise," "fitness," "sports," "prisoners," "inmates," "incarcerated individuals," "well-being," "mental health," "physical health," "psychological well-being" and "emotional well-being." After screening 1,736 potential articles, 54 relevant studies were selected. These included structured exercise programs, yoga/mindfulness programs and evaluations of physical activity levels. Two authors independently reviewed and selected studies based on predefined inclusion criteria, ensuring a comprehensive overview of the literature on physical activity interventions in prison settings.

Findings: The review identified 12 relevant studies, revealing that physical activity interventions, including structured exercise programs, yoga and mindfulness, positively impact the psychological and physical well-being of incarcerated individuals. Consistent improvements were noted in mental health outcomes, such as reduced depression and anxiety, and enhanced physical health indicators, including lower body mass index and increased fitness levels. The findings underscore the necessity for age- and gender-specific interventions to address the unique health challenges faced by different inmate demographics, highlighting the importance of incorporating diverse and culturally relevant exercise programs in prisons.

Originality/value: This review uniquely synthesizes the impact of various physical activity interventions on the well-being of incarcerated individuals, emphasizing the necessity for tailored, culturally relevant programs. Notably, no previous review has comprehensively analyzed this aspect. By comparing diverse types of interventions, it provides comprehensive insights into the benefits of structured exercise, yoga and mindfulness in prison settings. This work highlights the importance of implementing physical activity in various forms, especially for female inmates, to enhance health and well-being. It offers valuable guidance for developing effective rehabilitation strategies in correctional facilities.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to use lived experience and research to bridge the gap between LGBTQ+ policy and practice in prisons. The authors hope that this paper will ignite debate and lead to the development of policy, training and awareness across the prison estate in the United Kingdom (UK).

Design/methodology/approach: This paper draws on the lived experiences of a serving prisoner, who has co-authored this paper. He identifies as gay. His examples of life behind bars depict the clear disconnect between policy and its application in practice. The authors have drawn on aspects of lived experience which best highlight gaps in policy and they have then used these to inform and justify the recommendations at the end of this paper.

Findings: This paper found that there is a clear disconnect between policy and practice in relation to supporting LGBTQ+ people in the prison estate. The findings highlight the haphazard approach to risk assessments and the manipulation of policy by both staff and prisoners.

Research limitations/implications: There is some research on the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in prisons in the UK, albeit limited. The authors recognise that drawing on the lived experiences of individuals calls into question the reliability of the findings and implications that they have proposed. However, these experiences do align with the existing research. There is an urgent need for further research into the experiences of LGBTQ+ people within prisons.

Practical implications: This paper is intended to ignite debate on the experiences and rights of LGBTQ+ prisoners. Implementing the recommendations that are outlined in this article will help to create a more consistent approach to the application of LGBTQ+ prisoners' rights.

Social implications: LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience poor mental health. Implementing the policy recommendations will help to create more inclusive cultures within prisons. In addition, the recommendations seek to foster the development of positive attitudes through developing educational resources which aim to challenge discrimination and prejudice. This furthers the advancement of social justice and inclusion, not just in prisons but also in the community. Prisoners returning to the community are more likely to enter it with healthy and inclusive values in relation to LGBTQ+.

Originality/value: This paper draws on the lived experiences of a serving long-term prisoner. Thus, it provides a valuable and unique insight into day-to-day life in the prison system. This insight is valuable to both policy makers and researchers who are seeking to develop a better, more informed understanding of life behind bars for LGBTQ+ prisoners.

Purpose: The sexual health of the male prison population is often among the poorest in a country. This paper aims to identify the wider health impacts and social value of a sexual health self-sampling programme offered to male prisoners in an open prison setting in Wales.

Design/methodology/approach: This study applied a unique pilot approach of using Health Impact Assessment and Social Return on Investment Frameworks in tandem. Key stakeholder groups affected by the intervention were identified, and engaged with through workshops, interviews and questionnaires to identify and quantify the health impacts and wider outcomes. Outcomes were then valued using proxy financial values to present the overall estimated social value of the self-sampling service.

Findings: Based on a small sample, results indicate that for every £1 spent on the self-sampling service in the prison, a potential value of £4.14 was created. This resulted in a ratio of £4.14:£1. Approximately one-third of the value created (£1,517.95) was categorised as monetarily returnable, whereas the remaining value (£3,260.40) was purely illustrative social value, for example improved mental well-being.

Originality/value: This unique pilot study demonstrates the health impacts and wider social value of providing a self-sampling sexual health service to prisoners within an open prison setting. By innovatively testing the feasibility of using a Health Impact Assessment process alongside Social Return on Investment analyses, this paper has outlined how the frameworks can be used in synergy to illustrate not just direct return on investment but also the social value of providing such a service.