Prison health priorities in Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study in the two largest detention environments in Burkina Faso

• Published in: International journal of prisoner health 2022-01, Vol.18 (1), p.97-113
• Main Authors: Diendéré, Eric Arnaud, Traoré, Karim, Bernatas, Jean-Jacques, Idogo, Ouedan, Dao, Abdoul Kader, Traoré, Go Karim, Napon/Zongo, P. Delphine, Ouédraogo/Dioma, Solange, Bognounou, René, Diallo, Ismael, Ouédraogo/Sondo, Apoline Kongnimissom, Niamba, Pascal Antoine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Action; Adult; Agricultural production; Beriberi; Burkina Faso - epidemiology; Chronic illnesses; Classification; Complaints; Correctional institutions; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Detention centers; Female; Gastrointestinal system; Gastrointestinal tract; Health care; Health care facilities; Health facilities; Health policy; Health Priorities; Health status; Health surveillance; Healthy food; Hepatitis; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Hygiene; Imprisonment; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical personnel; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mobilization; Morbidity; Nutrient deficiency; Nutrition; Overcrowding; Primary care; Prisoners; Prisoners - psychology; Prisons; Public health; Questionnaires; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory tract; Respiratory tract diseases; School attendance; Skin diseases; Socioeconomic factors; Specialists; Strategy; Thinness; Tuberculosis; Underweight; Vitamin deficiency; Women
• ISSN: 1744-9200; 1744-9219; 1744-9219
• DOI: 10.1108/IJPH-04-2021-0036

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the factors associated with the occurrence of diseases and beriberi among prisoners incarcerated in the two largest Remand and Correctional Facilities (RCF). Design/methodology/approach This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study carried out from April 20 to May 19, 2017, in the RCFs of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. All prisoners who consulted and those referred to the health center by the health-care team were included in the study. Complaints and diagnosed diseases information were collected using the second version of the International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC-2). The authors used a logistic regression model to perform univariate and multivariate analyses. Findings Of the 1,004 prisoners from the two RCFs included in the study (32.6%), 966 (96%) were male. The median age was 31.6 years. The distribution of diseases diagnosed using the ICPC-2 showed a predominance of gastrointestinal tract, skin and respiratory tract diseases among 206 (19.3%), 188 (17.6%) and 184 (17.2%) prisoners, respectively. A total of 302 prisoners (30.1%) had clinical beriberi, and 80 prisoners (8%) were underweight. Being incarcerated for more than nine months was independently associated with a high risk of digestive and respiratory diseases as well as beriberi. Research limitations/implications This study highlighted higher frequencies of digestive, skin and respiratory complaints and diseases in the two largest detention centers in Burkina Faso. These diseases are variously related to age, penal status and length of incarceration. In addition, underweight and thiamin vitamin deficiency responsible for beriberi are more frequent in adult prisoners, those not attending school, convicted prisoners and those with a length of stay in detention of more than nine months. These concrete results should help define a strategy and priority actions needed to reduce morbidity in prisons. Practical implications The actions should include the intervention of specialists in the field of common diseases in prisons, the improvement of individual hygiene conditions and environment, the improvement of the quality and quantity of the food ration, a strategy to reduce prison overcrowding. Other actions must be planned to allow specific groups such as women and minors to have access to health care that is adapted to them. Beyond the central concern of promoting the rights of prisoners and humanizing prisons, actions to impro