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

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, witho...
Source: International Journal of Prisoner Health - Category: Criminology Authors: Source Type: research