Health in Persons Deprived of Their Liberty in South America: A Painful Reflection of Our Public Health.

Objectives: To describe sociodemographic characteristics and health-related data in persons deprived of liberty (PDL) from South America in the last five years. Methods: Documentary descriptive study. Results: There are 1.5 million PDL in Latin America and the Caribbean; the average overcrowding is 64%; 58% do not sleep in beds, 20% do not have access to clean water and 29% do not receive medical care. In Peru, during 2021, there were 87,245 PDL and 69 penal institutions. The national average overcrowding is 120%, the second-highest in South America. In South America, the prevalence of tuberculosis is 2.0% SD = 0.64 and the median of illegal substances prevalence is 34.6 (IQR = 7.5-41.4). In Peru, the prevalence of tuberculosis has decreased since 2016 (4.3%), 2018(3.5%), and 2021(2.5%). Among the health problems by country, there were more data on substance use: 8/10, and tuberculosis, 7/10 countries. Cardiovascular diseases had the least available data. Regarding COVID-19, during the first wave in Peru, 54% of the total PPL were infected, and by the end of the wave, 446 PDL and 46 members of the prison staff had died. In Colombia, between April and October 2020, there were 16,804 cases (80 in ICU) and 136 deaths. In Brazil, up to March 2021, 340 people had died, and there were over 67,000 infections. Conclusions: Overcrowding is an unresolved problem; tuberculosis and substance use are the most frequent issues. Data are limited in quality, homogeneity and availability. Greater effort is needed from health authorities to improve health management and information systematization. Source: MesH.

Transnational Trans Woman Inspires and Informs Evidence-Informed Interventions.

Transitional Care Coordination is an evidence-informed model program developed by New York City Correctional Health Services as a Health Resources and Services Administration Special Projects of National Significance Correctional Health Linkage Intervention. Using implementation science under this and subsequent demonstration projects, interventions were adapted and enhanced to address the transitional needs of people of Puerto Rican ancestry and to expand the network of care across the islands of Puerto Rico. These interventions were informed, in part, by a transnational trans woman of color of Puerto Rican ancestry living with HIV. A socioecological model framework and case study are used to illustrate how evidence-informed interventions are developed and adapted to address the needs of those served.

Associated factors to depression diagnosed during incarceration in Peruvian male prisoners: a sub-analysis of the national census of prison population.

PURPOSE: Depression has become a major health concern, particularly in developing countries. This disorder is highly prevalent among certain vulnerable populations, such as prisoners. In Peru, prisons are overcrowded, and the health of prisoners is neglected. Thus, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression diagnosed during incarceration in male inmates from all Peruvian prisons and assess its associated factors. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the secondary data analysis of the National Census of Prison Population 2016 in Peru. This study included records of prisoners who reported whether they were diagnosed with depression by a health-care professional after admission into the prisons. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed. FINDINGS: Of the 63,312 prisoners included in this study, 1,007 reported an in-prison diagnosis of depression by a health-care professional, which represents a prevalence of 1.59%. Substance use disorder (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 3.10; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.91-5.03), hypertension (aPR 7.20; 95% CI: 6.28-8.24) and previous discrimination (aPR 1.97; 95% CI: 1.62-2.40) were strongly associated with depression, even when adjusting for multiple confounders. Other directly associated variables were, for example, violence during childhood, infrequent visits in prison and diabetes. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The right of prisoners to adequate health care is being neglected in Peru. Mental health is a cornerstone of health quality. Acknowledging which factors are associated with depression in prison is important to implement strategies to improve the mental health of prisoners.

Assessing post-traumatic stress symptoms in a Latino prison population.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to assess the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Davidson trauma scale (DTS-S) and to determine the prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a non-clinical random sample of prison inmates. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Probabilistic samples of 1,179 inmates from 26 penal institutions in Puerto Rico were selected using a multistage sampling design. Population estimates and correlations were obtained for PTSD, generalized anxiety and depression. The reliability, factor structure, and convergent validity of the DTS-S were assessed. Cross-validation was employed to confirm the results of the factor analyses. FINDINGS: Using the cut-offs adopted by the scale's author, 136 (13.4 percent) of the inmates are likely to have current PTSD and 117 (11.6 percent) reach the cut-off for sub-threshold PTSD. Confirmatory factor analysis generated two factors explaining 53 percent of the variance. High reliabilities were obtained for the total scale (α=0.95) and for the frequency and severity scales (α=0.90 and 0.91). Significantly higher DTS-S scores were found for females (t=2.26, p<0.025), for inmates diagnosed with depression or anxiety (t=2.02, p<0.05), and those reporting suicide attempts (t=4.47, p<0.0001). ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Findings support that the DTS-S is a reliable and valid measure to assess PTSD symptoms in Latino inmate populations and to identify individuals at risk for the disorder that require confirmatory diagnosis and clinical interventions.

Crecimiento, desarrollo, integración social y prácticas de crianza en niños que viven con sus madres en prisión / Growth, development, social integration and parenting practices on children living with their mothers in prison

La prisión se considera un medioambiente de muy alto riesgo, pero hay muy escasa información sobre el crecimiento y desarrollo (C y D) de los niños que viven allí. Con el objetivo de evaluarlo, se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal en 68 niños que vivían con sus 66 madres en la Unidad Penitenciaria 31, de Ezeiza (a 30 km de la ciudad de Buenos Aires). Métodos. Se midió el peso, la estatura, se administró la PRUNAPE (para pesquisa de trastornos inaparentes del desarrollo), se midió el cociente de desarrollo (Cats Clams), y el grado de confictos emocionales (prueba SQE). Resultados. El intervalo etario de las madres fue 18-45 años, mediana 23,5 a. El tiempo de estadía de los niños varió entre 0,05 a 3,95 meses. La media ± error estándar (EE) del puntaje "Z" de la longitud corporal fue de -0,30 ± 0,12; peso 0,40 ± 0,12; índice de masa corporal (IMC) 0,91 ± 0,18; perímetro cefálico 0,19 ± 0,14, y cociente de desarrollo 92,4 ± 1,7. El peso medio de nacimiento fue normal, y 7 niños de 67 no pasaron la PRUNAPE, una proporción menor que el 19,3% encontrado en centros de salud de San Isidro. Se halló un alto porcentaje (39%) de niños con trastornos emocionales, y de madres con puntajes bajos en pautas de crianza comparados al de madres que viven en sus casas en La Plata. Conclusiones. Los niños tienen menor estatura y mayor IMC que los de referencia. El 39% presenta trastornos emocionales. Los conocimientos de pautas de crianza de las madres son menores que los de madres de La Plata.

Prisons are considered a very high risk environment, but there is very scarce scientifc information on the growth and development of children who live there. Objective. With the purpose of evaluating growth and development of children living with their mothers in prison, a cross sectional survey was performed in 68 children aged 0-3 years in Unit 31, a prison for mothers with children located at 30 km from Buenos Aires. Methods. Weight, supine length, and developmental quotient (Cats Clams) was measured, PRUNAPE, and SQE-SE test were administered (screening tests for detecting developmental and emotional disorders, respectively). Mother´s child rearing practices were assessed with a previously standardized questionnaire. Results. Age range of mothers was 18-46 years, median 23.5 yr. Duration of stay in prison of children was 0.05-35 months. Mean ± standard error of "Z" score for height was -0.30 ± 0.12, weight 0.40 ± 0.12; body mass index 0.91 ± 0.18; head circumference 0.19 ± 0.14; and developmental quotient 92.4 ± 1.7. There were only 7 children out of 67 who failed the PRUNAPE. Mean Cats Clams developmental score was 91.3. ASQ-SE test showed high prevalence (39%) of emotional and social integration problems. Mother´s knowledge about child rearing practices was poorer than that found in a normal urban local population. There were no trends for results to be related to the length of stay in prison. Conclusion. Children are shorter and with higher BMI than reference. Emotional disorders are frequent (39%). Mother's knowledge about child care was poorer than that found in a near population. A program for longitudinal surveillance for all prisons in the country was proposed to the authorities.