HIV/AIDS prisoners: a case study on quality of life in Roumieh, Lebanon

Measuring the quality of life of incarcerated individuals

PURPOSE

Measuring quality of life (QoL) under incarceration can be used to track successful rehabilitation and risk of re-offending. However, few studies have measured QoL among general incarcerated populations, and it is important to use psychometrically strong measures that pose minimal burdens to respondents and administrators. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

The aim of this analysis was to explore the utility of a short generic tool measuring overall QoL, the QOL5, in an incarcerated population. The authors drew data from the Norwegian Offender Mental Health and Addiction Study, a cross-sectional survey of 1,499 individuals from Norwegian prisons.

FINDINGS

Factor analysis suggested a unidimensional structure that explained 53.2 percent of variance in QoL scores. Intrascale correlations were high and internal consistency was acceptable ( α=0.764). The QOL5 was strongly correlated with mental health, moderately correlated with exercise frequency and weakly correlated with ward security.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The QOL5 is a short measure that presents minimal burden to respondents and administrators. The authors recommend its further use in incarcerated populations to measure overall QoL as well as cross-cultural adaptation and validation in more languages.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

In this analysis of the largest published sample to date of incarcerated individuals and their QoL, the QOL5 appears to be an acceptable and valid measure of overall QoL.

HIV/AIDS in Lebanese prisons: challenges and proposed actions

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the extent of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) crisis in Lebanese prisons, propose functional reforms for Roumieh prisons (the country's largest male top-security prison), and outline the main challenges to HIV/AIDS prevention, intervention, and treatment.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

All recommendations were based on previous successful stories, international prison standards as well as cultural considerations.

FINDINGS

This paper argues that prevention and interventions starts within the prison community including inmates, guards, and other prison and provision of appropriate health care, education, and prison infrastructure.

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

These strategies are not only important in limiting prevention and transmission of HIV/AIDS, but also contribute in optimizing quality of life within the prison system.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

This paper is the first of its kind to discuss the prison situation in Lebanese prisons in terms of public health promotion and reforms.