Indian Journal of Community Medicine (Apr 2024)
IJCM_50A: Mortality trends in Indian prisons and its associated risk factors: a time trend analysis from 2017-2021
Abstract
Background: The environmental health status of jail populations poses a significant public health threat for prisoners and the general population. The environment of jails provides a suitable foundation concerning morbidity and mortality of the general population due to the concentrated potential source of infectious diseases, difficult access to treatment for chronic health conditions, interruption in the continuity of care for serious behavioural health conditions, as well as on-going issues for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse disorders. Prisoners should receive a healthcare provision equivalent to people living in the community. Those rights, if fulfilled, will contribute to the process of social rehabilitation and will facilitate further reintegration into society on release. Objective: To analyze the mortality trends in Indian prisons from 2017-2021 and determine associated risk factors. Methodology: The various mortality statistics and associated risk factors were retrieved from the Prison Statistics of India report published annually by the National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs. A literature search was also done in electronic databases like -PubMed, Google Scholar, and other platforms using keywords- mortality in prisons, prison health, and death in Indian jails. Results: The obtained estimates identified an ascending trend in mortality in Indian prisons due to cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, and suicide, accompanied by a rising trend in mental illnesses. Overcrowding, inadequate manpower for healthcare facilities, and poor budget allocation for prison health are some notable causes of rising mortality. Conclusion: The study’s findings revealed that prisoners, despite being a vulnerable section of the population, are deprived of adequate medical facilities due to restrictions imposed by law. Therefore, reducing overcrowding, recruiting adequate manpower for healthcare facilities and adequate budget allocation for prison health shall play an instrumental role in reducing the trend of mental illnesses and mortality in Indian prisons.
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