Prison health priorities in Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study in the two largest detention environments in Burkina Faso
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 13 August 2021
Issue publication date: 25 January 2022
Abstract
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 improve the health of prisoners are part of an overall public health approach with its socio-economic and environmental implications.
Social implications
There is a need for a strong commitment from the State to develop a prison health policy that prioritizes the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases that are particularly prevalent in this context, without forgetting mental health and nutrition. This requires a collaboration of stakeholders based on better intersectorial communication, the implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system for the health of prisoners, an enhancement of the status of health-care providers working in prisons and an increase in the funding allocated to the health of prisoners with the mobilization of the necessary funds.
Originality/value
This study uses a primary health care classification to assess the health of inmates in a prison in Africa. It contributes to the weak evidence around prison health surveillance and health profiling of prisoners in Africa.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Authors' contribution: DEA, TK, JJB, IO, DAK designed the study, wrote the research protocol, collected and analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. TK, IO, DAK, TGK collected data. ZPD, ODS, RB, DI provided the bibliography and give a critical reading. DEA, TK, JJB, SKA, NPA, directed the study, give a critical reading and suggested final corrections. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.The authors thank all the people who contributed to the realization of this work. These thanks are particularly addressed two points.Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Civic Promotion of Burkina Faso; Minister of Health; the directors of the prison administration and their teams; the members of the research team and the resource persons; all the health workers, social workers, security and administrative staff of the two RCFs (Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso) who participated in or facilitated the realization of this study; the parents or guardians of the juvenile detainees who gave their consent for their child’s participation; all the prisoners who agreed to participate in this study.The authors thank: Embassy of France in Burkina Faso; Philippe Faisandier and Jean-Claude Pierru (magistrates, technical advisors to the Minister of Justice of Burkina Faso) for their support in carrying out this work. Conflicts of interest: We declare no conflict of interest for the publication of this scientific work.
Citation
Diendéré, E.A., Traoré, K., Bernatas, J.-J., Idogo, O., Dao, A.K., Traoré, G.K., Napon/Zongo, P.D., Ouédraogo/Dioma, S., Bognounou, R., Diallo, I., Ouédraogo/Sondo, A.K. and Niamba, P.A. (2022), "Prison health priorities in Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study in the two largest detention environments in Burkina Faso", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 97-113. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-04-2021-0036
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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