Disease profiles of detainees in the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland: gender and age differences in substance abuse, mental health and chronic health conditions.

Karine Moschetti,Tenzin Wangmo,Patrick Bodenmann,Jean-Blaise Wasserfallen,Pierre Stadelmann,Bernice S Elger,Alberto Holly,Bruno Gravier

doi:10.1186/s12889-015-2211-6

Abstract

BackgroundLiterature on the disease profile of prisoners that differentiates by age and gender remains sparse. This study aimed to describe the health of correctional inmates in terms of substance abuse problems and mental and somatic health conditions, and compare it by gender and age.MethodsThis study examined cross-sectional data from the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland on the health conditions of detainees who were in prison on January 1, 2011 or entered prison in 2011. Health conditions validated by physician examination were reported using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) version 10. The analyses were descriptive by groups of prisoners: the entire sample (All), Men, Older adults and Women.ResultsA total of 1,664 individuals were included in the analysis. Men comprised 91.5 % of the sample and had a mean age of 33 years. The other 8.5 % were women and had an average age of 39. Older adults (i.e., age 50 and older) represented 7 % of the total sample. Overall, 80 % of inmates were non-Swiss citizens, but the proportion of Swiss prisoners was higher among the older adults (51 %) and women (29 %). Overall, 41 % of inmates self-reported substance abuse problems. Of those, 27 % were being treated by psychiatrists for behavioral disorders related to substance abuse. Chronic infectious diseases were found in 9 % of the prison population. In addition, 27 % of detainees suffered from serious mental health conditions. Gender and age had an influence on the disease profile of this sample: compared to the entire prison population, the older inmates were less likely to misuse illegal drugs and to suffer from communicable infections but exhibited more problems with alcohol and a higher burden of chronic health conditions. Female prisoners were more disposed to mental health problems (including drug abuse) and infectious diseases. In terms of chronic diseases, women suffered from the same conditions as men, but the diseases were more prevalent in women.ConclusionIt is important to understand the different disease profiles of prisoners by gender and age, as it helps identify the needs of different groups and tailor age-and gender-specific interventions.

Highlights

Literature on the disease profile of prisoners that differentiates by age and gender remains sparse
Chronic infectious diseases were found in 9 % of the prison population
This paper contributes to the knowledge on disease profiles of incarcerated persons with a particular focus on two minority groups– older inmates and female inmates– on which the literature remains sparse

Summary

Introduction

Literature on the disease profile of prisoners that differentiates by age and gender remains sparse. This study aimed to describe the health of correctional inmates in terms of substance abuse problems and mental and somatic health conditions, and compare it by gender and age. Studies have shown that poly-morbidity among prisoners is high, with substance abuse, mental illnesses and infectious diseases as the most common health problems [3,4,5]. Substance abuse and dependence are common problems encountered among the prison population [6, 7]. The widely-known negative health outcomes of tobacco use and secondhand smoke are highly problematic, and even more so in confined environments [12, 13]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion