Abstract
In many developing countries including Nigeria, prison conditions are far from being humane, and prison health is yet to be seen as a profitable social project. This is often displayed in the various forms of social interactions obtainable among prisoners, prison staff and the larger social system. Prisons in Nigeria over the past years have been in deplorable conditions with increase in disease burden among inmates. The worrisome part is not the governments’ willingness to join the global drive towards realising access to health care service, but the slowness in attitude in addressing the health needs of prisoners; yet prison health remains paramount. In the light of the above background, the paper therefore, attempts a sociological discourse of prison health in Nigeria within the context of the dynamics of social structures on prison health as well as suggest plausible strategy through which optimum prison health in Nigeria could be realised. Key words: Inmates, punishment, prison staff, prison health, prison condition.
Highlights
Seven years into the new millennium, health for all in Nigeria and many African nations has remained mirage
As a result issues relating to prison health have not fared better since the general imprisonment philosophies govern the process of becoming an inmate, prison conditions and health as well as the process of regaining freedom
A study by Okochi et al (1991) on sexually transmitted infections among prisoners in Agodi, Ibadan, Nigeria revealed that inmates‟ males and females engage in risky sexual behaviours which may further aggravate the further spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons
Summary
In many developing countries including Nigeria, prison conditions are far from being humane, and prison health is yet to be seen as a profitable social project. This is often displayed in the various forms of social interactions obtainable among prisoners, prison staff and the larger social system. The worrisome part is not the governments’ willingness to join the global drive towards realising access to health care service, but the slowness in attitude in addressing the health needs of prisoners; yet prison health remains paramount.
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