Stewart Lynn A, Nolan Amanda, Sapers Jeremy, Power Jenelle, Panaro Linda, Smith Jonathan
Correctional Service of Canada, Ottawa, Ont.
CMAJ Open. 2015 Jan 13;3(1):E97-E102. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20140025. eCollection 2015 Jan-Mar.
International health studies have shown that inmates have higher rates of infectious diseases, chronic diseases and psychiatric disorders relative to the general population. We conducted a systematic collection of data on chronic physical health conditions reported by newly admitted inmates in Canadian federal penitentiaries.
Over a 6-month period from April to September 2012, we collected and analyzed data from a standardized health interview routinely conducted with consenting incoming male inmates (n = 2273). Prevalence rates of health conditions were determined and disaggregated by age (< 50 yr and ≥ 50 yr) and by Aboriginal status.
The most common health conditions reported by respondents were head injury (34.1%), back pain (19.3%), asthma (14.7%) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (9.4%). Rates of many health conditions were higher among inmates 50 years of age or older than among younger inmates. Compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts, Aboriginal inmates had higher rates of head injury and HCV infection.
Our study provides a benchmark that can be used to examine health trends within Canada's federal penitentiaries over time and points to subgroups of newly admitted inmates for whom health services may need to be concentrated.
国际健康研究表明，与普通人群相比，囚犯患传染病、慢性病和精神障碍的比率更高。我们对加拿大联邦监狱新收押囚犯报告的慢性身体健康状况数据进行了系统收集。
在2012年4月至9月的6个月期间，我们收集并分析了对同意参与的新收押男性囚犯（n = 2273）例行进行的标准化健康访谈数据。确定了健康状况的患病率，并按年龄（<50岁和≥50岁）和原住民身份进行了分类。
受访者报告的最常见健康状况为头部受伤（34.1%）、背痛（19.3%）、哮喘（14.7%）和丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染（9.4%）。50岁及以上囚犯中许多健康状况的发生率高于年轻囚犯。与非原住民囚犯相比，原住民囚犯头部受伤和HCV感染的发生率更高。
我们的研究提供了一个基准，可用于长期审视加拿大联邦监狱内的健康趋势，并指出可能需要集中提供健康服务的新收押囚犯亚组。
