Prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among female prisoners: a mixed-methods systematic review.

PURPOSE: This study aims to provide an overview and quality appraisal of the current scientific evidence concerning the prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among sentenced female prisoners. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A mixed-methods systematic literature review. FINDINGS: A total of 4 reviews and 39 single studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Mental disorders were the main area of investigation in the majority of single studies, with substance abuse, particularly drug abuse, as the most consistently gender biased disorder, with higher prevalence among women than men in prison. The review identified a lack of updated systematic evidence on the presence of multi-morbidity. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study provides an up-to-date overview and quality appraisal of the current scientific evidence concerning the prevalence and characteristics of mental and physical disorders among female prisoners.

Burden of opioid toxicity death in the fentanyl-dominant era for people who experience incarceration in Ontario, Canada, 2015-2020: a whole population retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe mortality due to opioid toxicity among people who experienced incarceration in Ontario between 2015 and 2020, during the fentanyl-dominant era. DESIGN: In this retrospective cohort study, we linked Ontario coronial data on opioid toxicity deaths between 2015 and 2020 with correctional data for adults incarcerated in Ontario provincial correctional facilities. SETTING: Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: Whole population data. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was opioid toxicity death and the exposure was any incarceration in a provincial correctional facility between 2015 and 2020. We calculated crude death rates and age-standardised mortality ratios (SMR). RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2020, 8460 people died from opioid toxicity in Ontario. Of those, 2207 (26.1%) were exposed to incarceration during the study period. Among those exposed to incarceration during the study period (n=1 29 152), 1.7% died from opioid toxicity during this period. Crude opioid toxicity death rates per 10 000 persons years were 43.6 (95% CI=41.8 to 45.5) for those exposed to incarceration and 0.95 (95% CI=0.93 to 0.97) for those not exposed. Compared with those not exposed, the SMR for people exposed to incarceration was 31.2 (95% CI=29.8 to 32.6), and differed by sex, at 28.1 (95% CI=26.7 to 29.5) for males and 77.7 (95% CI=69.6 to 85.9) for females. For those exposed to incarceration who died from opioid toxicity, 10.6% died within 14 days of release and the risk was highest between days 4 and 7 postrelease, at 288.1 per 10 000 person years (95% CI=227.8 to 348.1). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of opioid toxicity death is many times higher for people who experience incarceration compared with others in Ontario. Risk is markedly elevated in the week after release, and women who experience incarceration have a substantially higher SMR than men who experience incarceration. Initiatives to prevent deaths should consider programmes and policies in correctional facilities to address high risk on release.

Hepatitis A virus infection in Brazilian correctional facilities.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, through interpersonal contact and ingestion of contaminated food or water. Prisoners are at higher risk of acquiring HAV infection mainly due to the environment of closed penal institutions and socioeconomic conditions. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HAV and its associated risk factors among inmates from twelve prisons in Central Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted between March 2013 and March 2014. A total of 580 prisoners participated in the study. The participant's samples were tested for Total and IgM anti-HAV antibodies by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Risk factors associated with anti-HAV seropositivity were also analyzed. The prevalence rate of HAV exposure was 88.1% (95% CI: 85.5-90.7). No sample had a positive reaction to IgM anti-HAV. Increasing age, low level of education, and being imprisoned in Corumbá city were independently associated with HAV exposure among prisoners. To prevent the burden of the disease, vaccination strategies should be considered for susceptible prisoners in Central Brazil.

Past incarceration and chlamydia infection among young Black men in New Orleans.

Background: Young Black men are disproportionately and adversely affected by incarceration and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), both of which share common social and structural determinants. It is well documented that incarcerated individuals, including youth, are more likely to acquire STIs in the carceral setting compared to the general population. However, the effects of imprisonment on sexual health outcomes after imprisonment are not well-understood. The relationship between incarceration history (having ever spent time in a correctional institution such as prison, jail, or juvenile detention) and chlamydia positivity was examined in this study. Methods: A secondary analysis of the Check it Program, a Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) community-based seek, test, and treat screening program for Black men aged 15-24 who have sex with women in New Orleans was conducted. Participants completed a computer-assisted self-administered questionnaire on relevant sexual and social histories and provided a urine specimen for a Ct urine nucleic acid amplification test. Bivariate and multivariable regressions were used to estimate the association between incarceration history and chlamydia positivity. Results: Participants (N = 1,907) were enrolled from May 2017 to March 2020. Of those, 351/1,816 (19.3%) reported past incarceration and 203/1,888 (10.8%) tested positive for Ct. When adjusted for age, insurance status, and condom use, having a history of incarceration was positively associated with a positive Ct test (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval):1.61 (1.12, 2.31), p = 0.0095). Conclusions: Interacting with the carceral system is associated with a positive Ct test post-incarceration. Incarceration may be an important marker for Ct acquisition in young Black men who have sex with women and those with a history of incarceration should be prioritized for Ct screening after release.

Papilla reconstruction using a vertical interproximal tunnel approach.

INTRODUCTION: Papilla reformation is one of the most difficult and elusive surgical techniques for clinicians. Although it involves similar tenets to those applied for soft tissue grafting at recession defects, crafting a small tissue in restricted space remains unpredictable. Numerous grafting techniques have been developed to correct interproximal and buccal recession, but so far, only a limited number of techniques have been prescribed for interproximal remediation. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes in detail a modern technique (the vertical interproximal tunnel approach) for reforming the interproximal papilla and treating interproximal recession. It also documents three challenging cases of papilla loss. The first case presented Class II papilla loss and a recession type 3 gingival defect adjacent to a dental implant, managed using the vertical interproximal tunnel approach through a short vertical incision. A 6-mm increase in attachment level and almost complete papilla fill were observed in this case with this surgical technique for papilla reconstruction. The second and third cases presented Class II papilla loss between two adjacent teeth, managed using the vertical interproximal tunnel approach through a semilunar incision and achieving full papilla reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Both described incision designs for the vertical interproximal tunnel approach require technical meticulousness. When executed carefully and using the most beneficial pattern of blood supply, predictable reconstruction of the interproximal papilla can be achieved. It also helps alleviate concerns associated with inadequate flap thickness, blood supply and flap retraction.

Pathways From Recent Incarceration to Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence: Opportunities for Interventions to Support Women Living With HIV Post Release From Correctional Facilities.

ABSTRACT: Women living with HIV are increasingly incarcerated and experience suboptimal HIV health outcomes post release from incarceration. Drawing on cohort data with cisgender and trans women living with HIV (Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS: Women's Longitudinal Needs Assessment), we used path analysis to investigate pathways from recent incarceration to optimal antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. We tested direct effects between recent incarceration, mediating variables, and ART adherence, along with indirect effects between incarceration and ART adherence through each mediator. We assessed model fit using chi-square, root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA), and comparative fit index (CFI). Our hypothesized model fit well to the data (χ2(1)=1.100; p=.2943; CFI = 1.000; RMSEA = 0.007). Recent experiences of homelessness, criminalized substance use, and gender-based violence each fully mediated the pathway between recent incarceration and optimal ART adherence. Findings highlight the need for safe and supportive housing, supports for criminalized substance use, and trauma and violence-informed care and practice post release from incarceration.

COVID-19 control measures in correctional facilities of selected countries - A literature overview.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant public health challenges for this generation. Governments have been forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus and protect the people. Restrictive and other measures have also been taken in correctional facilities to control the epidemiological situation. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this review are: 1) to contribute to knowledge by providing an overview of anti-COVID-19 measures that have been undertaken by the proper authorities in a few selected countries to control the epidemiological situation in prison; 2) to demonstrate proposals made in this respect by international organizations and scientific institutions and 3) to complete the most important bibliographical items for further studies. REVIEW METHODS: A literature review was carried out of international scientific and grey literature published between 30.01.2020 and 30.07.2021 (with some exemptions). In every correctional system in the countries under scrutiny, the proper authorities introduced many measures to control the epidemiological situation from the very beginning of the pandemic. SUMMARY: The COVD - pandemic impacts almost all aspects of social and individual life. Governments were forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus. Restrictive and other measures also had to be taken in correctional systems, where more than ten million people are held worldwide. The measures introduced differed regarding details such as time, scope and range, but were generally similar to solutions proposed by organisations such as the WHO or CDC. In most countries, the discussion regarding the reform of the legal system have been observed. One of the most discussed issues was the problem of decarceration.

Evaluation of antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 variants after 2 doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in a correctional facility.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has posed a challenge for correctional facilities worldwide. People in such settings are more vulnerable to severe forms of infection and it is impossible to completely isolate inmates from the outside world. This study aimed to assess the antibody-mediated immune response in terms of neutralizing antibodies against Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Omicron (sub-lineage BA.1) variants of concern after two doses of mRNA vaccine in correctional officers and inmates from an Italian correctional facility. Most of the correctional officers (56.5%) and inmates (52.3% and 63.6%) retained their neutralizing activity toward the Alpha and Gamma variants, respectively. By contrast, the most striking reduction in comparison with the ancestral virus was found in the antibody response toward the Beta and Omicron variants, in both correctional officers (91.2% and 93.9%) and inmates (85.1% and 92.8%). In addition, subjects who had undergone primary vaccination and had previously been naturally infected had higher neutralizing antibody titers toward the 4 variants than negative subjects. Overall, our findings indicate that primary mRNA vaccination is able to induce neutralizing antibodies toward the ancestral virus, while titers toward variants may vary, depending on the mutations harboring by the variants. Although the correctional setting is often considered distinct or isolated from the wider society and sanitary system, the health of correctional workers and prisoners is inexorably linked to the public health of the country as a whole and it is of paramount importance to monitor the antibody response in these settings.

A Cross-Sectional, Retrospective Evaluation of Opt-Out Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening at Admission in a Short-Term Correctional Facility in Alberta, Canada.

Incarcerated populations experience higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) than the general population, alongside inconsistent testing strategies. In response, universal opt-out STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) screening was implemented at admission in a short-term correctional facility in Alberta, Canada, for individuals ≤35 years. A cross-sectional, retrospective evaluation of testing outcomes between March 2018 and February 2020 was completed. Descriptive statistics were used to stratify STIs by gender, age group, and date for univariate analysis. Despite low uptake (31.2%), opt-out screening resulted in high positivity rates (14.9%, 10.8%, 29.5%, and 0.3%, respectively) and treatment completion (93.7%) while capturing a high proportion (52.6%) of asymptomatic cases. Opt-out screening at admission is feasible and can improve STI testing in high-risk individuals experiencing incarceration in Canada.

COVID-19 control measures in correctional facilities of selected countries - A literature overview.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant public health challenges for this generation. Governments have been forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus and protect the people. Restrictive and other measures have also been taken in correctional facilities to control the epidemiological situation. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this review are: 1) to contribute to knowledge by providing an overview of anti-COVID-19 measures that have been undertaken by the proper authorities in a few selected countries to control the epidemiological situation in prison; 2) to demonstrate proposals made in this respect by international organizations and scientific institutions and 3) to complete the most important bibliographical items for further studies. REVIEW METHODS: A literature review was carried out of international scientific and grey literature published between 30.01.2020 and 30.07.2021 (with some exemptions). In every correctional system in the countries under scrutiny, the proper authorities introduced many measures to control the epidemiological situation from the very beginning of the pandemic. SUMMARY: The COVD - pandemic impacts almost all aspects of social and individual life. Governments were forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus. Restrictive and other measures also had to be taken in correctional systems, where more than ten million people are held worldwide. The measures introduced differed regarding details such as time, scope and range, but were generally similar to solutions proposed by organisations such as the WHO or CDC. In most countries, the discussion regarding the reform of the legal system have been observed. One of the most discussed issues was the problem of decarceration.

Evaluation of antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 variants after 2 doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in a correctional facility.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has posed a challenge for correctional facilities worldwide. People in such settings are more vulnerable to severe forms of infection and it is impossible to completely isolate inmates from the outside world. This study aimed to assess the antibody-mediated immune response in terms of neutralizing antibodies against Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Omicron (sub-lineage BA.1) variants of concern after two doses of mRNA vaccine in correctional officers and inmates from an Italian correctional facility. Most of the correctional officers (56.5%) and inmates (52.3% and 63.6%) retained their neutralizing activity toward the Alpha and Gamma variants, respectively. By contrast, the most striking reduction in comparison with the ancestral virus was found in the antibody response toward the Beta and Omicron variants, in both correctional officers (91.2% and 93.9%) and inmates (85.1% and 92.8%). In addition, subjects who had undergone primary vaccination and had previously been naturally infected had higher neutralizing antibody titers toward the 4 variants than negative subjects. Overall, our findings indicate that primary mRNA vaccination is able to induce neutralizing antibodies toward the ancestral virus, while titers toward variants may vary, depending on the mutations harboring by the variants. Although the correctional setting is often considered distinct or isolated from the wider society and sanitary system, the health of correctional workers and prisoners is inexorably linked to the public health of the country as a whole and it is of paramount importance to monitor the antibody response in these settings.

Transformational leaders' approach to overcapacity: A study in correctional institutions.

This research attempts to examine the effect of transformational leadership (TL) on job satisfaction (JS) and job performance (JP) mediated by leader-member exchange (LMX) at all correctional officers in West Java. The quantitative method is adopted by conducting a questionnaire survey on all officers in the West Java area, with a total of 215 respondents. The questionnaire was done through the Google Forms platform and distributed in a time-lagged method. The sample of respondents who were interviewed was obtained through a purposive sampling technique, namely taking samples with certain considerations. The data in this study was then analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), which was assisted by the AMOS program. The findings revealed that TL has a large impact on JS, JP, and LMX, whereas LMX has a significant impact on JS and JP. This study contributes to the literature by linking TL, LMX, JS, and JP. It examines and analyzes how and why TL and LMX can affect JS and JP.

Hearing loss among inmates of a juvenile correctional facility in Nigeria.

Background: Good hearing is essential to learning and rehabilitation of adolescent and young adults in juvenile correctional facilities. Hearing screening programme is not commonly in place for this incarcerated group. Objective: To evaluate hearing threshold among inmates of a juvenile correctional facility in Nigeria and compare pattern of hearing loss with a control group. Methods: A total of 135 inmates and equal number of age and sex matched control responded to interviewer-administered questionnaire followed by otoscopy and audiometry. Results: Mean age of inmates was 19 years ±2.0, while that of control was 18yrs ± 2.5. (p-value 0.077). Four (3%) inmates had bleeding from the ear; otoscopy revealed traumatic tympanic membrane perforation in 2(1.5%) of them. Prevalence of hearing loss was 19.2% and for disabling hearing loss it was 1.4%. Conductive hearing loss was the most common 33(24.4%). Inmates had consistently worse mean hearing thresholds than controls across all frequencies tested in both ears (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Hearing loss is prevalent among inmates of juvenile correctional facility. Rehabilitation programme should be balanced with detail attention to health needs of inmates; including pre-admission and periodic hearing screening.

Mental Health Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Incarcerated in Juvenile Corrections.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined differences by sexual and gender minority (SGM) and incarceration statuses in mental health indicators among youth. METHODS: Population-based, cross-sectional data are from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (N = 72 324) and includes public school students (Mage = 15.49) and youth incarcerated in juvenile correctional facilities (Mage = 15.48). We categorized youth into 4 groups: (1) non-SGM youth in public schools, (2) non-SGM youth in correctional facilities, (3) SGM youth in public schools, and (4) SGM youth in correctional facilities. Multivariable regression models assessed associations among SGM and incarceration statuses and mental health indicators after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to adverse childhood experiences. RESULTS: More youth in juvenile correctional facilities identified as SGM (28.8%) compared with youth in public schools (20.4%, P = .002). SGM youth in correctional facilities reported a higher prevalence of suicidal ideation (42.2%), suicide attempt (37.5%), and self-harm (57.8%) compared with all other groups. Depressive symptom severity was similarly elevated among SGM youth in correctional facilities and SGM youth in public schools. SGM youth in correctional facilities, compared with non-SGM youth in public schools, demonstrated elevated odds of suicide ideation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.3-3.9), suicide attempt (aOR = 6.3, 95% CI = 3.6-10.9), and self-harm (aOR = 3.6, 95% CI = 2.1-6.3). CONCLUSIONS: Incarcerated SGM youth disproportionately experience negative mental health indicators. Findings suggest that tailored, intersectional, and responsive mental health interventions are needed to support incarcerated SGM youth.

Vulnerable populations: A cross-case synthesis of correctional facility disaster response during Hurricanes Katrina and Maria.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to critically evaluate the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), New Orleans, Louisiana response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, response to Hurricane Maria in 2017 to determine key areas for policy development. DESIGN: This study uses an interpretivist paradigm to conduct an inductive, cross-case synthesis and content analysis. SETTING: The OPP in Katrina and the MDC in Maria; case-studies determined by similar exposure to hurricanes in the Caribbean and inmate population. SUBJECTS: Inmates as an intrinsically vulnerable population. INTERVENTIONS: Cross-case synthesis of the two selected case-studies comparing response to separate hurricanes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The ProQuest, Wiley, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases were used to establish a corpus of qualitative data focused on the evacuation and humane treatment of inmates. Inductive content analysis resulted in three themes which informed seven policy recommendations for enhanced correctional facility preparedness for natural and human-induced hazards. RESULTS: The preparedness of correctional facilities remains inadequate despite significant experience during Katrina, Maria, and other disasters demonstrating a failure in isomorphic learning. CONCLUSIONS: The theoretical contributions of this study are encapsulated in seven recommendations. Three are recommended accountability and support measures for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and state institutions by involving the FEMA and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The other four are recommended improvements in EM planning for counties and municipalities.