1
|
Liu YE, LeBoa C, Rodriguez M, Sherif B, Trinidad C, Del Rosario M, Allen S, Clifford C, Redding J, Chen WT, Rosas LG, Morales C, Chyorny A, Andrews JR. COVID-19 Preventive Measures in Northern California Jails: Perceived Deficiencies, Barriers, and Unintended Harms. Front Public Health 2022; 10:854343. [PMID: 35774562 PMCID: PMC9237366 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.854343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Carceral facilities are high-risk settings for COVID-19 transmission. Little is known about the hidden burden of infection or practical barriers to infection control in these settings, especially in jails. There is also limited research on the mental health impacts of the pandemic among people living and working in carceral facilities. Methods Between July 8, 2020 and April 30, 2021, we performed SARS-CoV-2 rapid antibody testing and administered a questionnaire among residents and staff of four Northern California jails. We utilized multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for demographic and carceral characteristics, to analyze factors associated with prior infection, including perceived likelihood of prior infection and access to new masks. We additionally assessed the implementation of, perceptions toward, and impacts of COVID-19 policies in practice. We engaged stakeholder representatives, including incarcerated individuals, to guide study design, procedures, and results interpretation. Results We enrolled 788 jail residents and 380 jail staff. Nearly half of residents and two-thirds of staff who were antibody-positive had not previously tested positive for COVID-19. Among residents without a prior COVID-19 diagnosis, antibody positivity was significantly associated with perceived likelihood of prior infection (adjusted OR = 8.9; 95% CI, 3.6-22.0). Residents who had flu-like illness in jail cited inadequate responses to reported illness and deterrents to symptom reporting, including fears of medical isolation and perceptions of medical neglect. Residents also disclosed deficient access to face masks, which was associated with antibody positivity (adjusted OR = 13.8, 95% CI, 1.8-107.0). Worsened mental health was pervasive among residents, attributed not only to fear of COVID-19 and unsanitary jail conditions but also to intensified isolation and deprivation due to pandemic restrictions on in-person visitation, programs, and recreation time. Conclusion Carceral settings present significant challenges to maintaining infection control and human rights. Custody officials should work diligently to transform the conditions of medical isolation, which could mitigate deterrents to symptom reporting. Furthermore, they should minimize use of restrictive measures like lockdowns and suspension of visitation that exacerbate the mental health harms of incarceration. Instead, custody officials should ensure comprehensive implementation of other preventive strategies like masking, testing, and vaccination, in conjunction with multisector efforts to advance decarceration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiran E Liu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Christopher LeBoa
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Marcela Rodriguez
- Stanford Center for Clinical Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Beruk Sherif
- Stanford Center for Clinical Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Chrisele Trinidad
- Stanford Center for Clinical Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Michael Del Rosario
- Division of Correctional Health Services, San Mateo County Health, Redwood City, CA, United States
| | - Sophie Allen
- Stanford Law School, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Sociology, Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | - Jennifer Redding
- Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender, San Jose, CA, United States
| | - Wei-Ting Chen
- Office of Community Engagement, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Lisa G Rosas
- Office of Community Engagement, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Carlos Morales
- Division of Correctional Health Services, San Mateo County Health, Redwood City, CA, United States
| | - Alexander Chyorny
- Division of Custody Health, Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System, San Jose, CA, United States
| | - Jason R Andrews
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Winter RJ, Holmes JA, Papaluca TJ, Thompson AJ. The Importance of Prisons in Achieving Hepatitis C Elimination: Insights from the Australian Experience. Viruses 2022; 14:497. [PMID: 35336905 PMCID: PMC8949789 DOI: 10.3390/v14030497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the availability of highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat hepatitis C infection, the uptake of treatment by people living with hepatitis C rose dramatically in high- and middle-income countries but has since declined. To achieve the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2030 target to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat among people who inject drugs, an increase in testing and treatment is required, together with improved coverage of harm reduction interventions. The population that remains to be treated in high- and middle-income countries with high hepatitis C prevalence are among the most socially disadvantaged, including people who inject drugs and are involved in the criminal justice system, a group with disproportionate hepatitis C prevalence, compared with people in the wider community. Imprisonment provides an unrivalled opportunity for screening and treating large numbers of people for hepatitis C, who may not access mainstream health services in the community. Despite some implementation challenges, evidence of the efficacy, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of in-prison hepatitis treatment programs is increasing worldwide, and evaluations of these programs have demonstrated the capacity for treating people in high numbers. In this Perspective we argue that the scale-up of hepatitis C prevention, testing, and treatment programs in prisons, along with the investigation of new and adapted approaches, is critical to achieving WHO elimination goals in many regions; the Australian experience is highlighted as a case example. We conclude by discussing opportunities to improve access to prevention, testing, and treatment for people in prison and other justice-involved populations, including harnessing the changed practices brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Winter
- Behaviours and Health Risks/Disease Elimination Programs, Burnet Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Jacinta A. Holmes
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Timothy J. Papaluca
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Alexander J. Thompson
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne 3065, Australia; (J.A.H.); (T.J.P.); (A.J.T.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pearce LA, Vaisey A, Keen C, Calais-Ferreira L, Foulds JA, Young JT, Southalan L, Borschmann R, Gray R, Stürup-Toft S, Kinner SA. Correction to: A rapid review of early guidance to prevent and control COVID-19 in custodial settings. HEALTH & JUSTICE 2021; 9:33. [PMID: 38624933 PMCID: PMC8608357 DOI: 10.1186/s40352-021-00160-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40352-021-00150-w.].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay A. Pearce
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| | - Alaina Vaisey
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia
| | - Claire Keen
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia
| | - Lucas Calais-Ferreira
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia
| | - James A. Foulds
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Jesse T. Young
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia Australia
- National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia Australia
| | - Louise Southalan
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia
- Law School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia Australia
| | - Rohan Borschmann
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| | - Ruth Gray
- Healthcare in Prison, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, North, Ireland, UK
| | | | - Stuart A. Kinner
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Level 4, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053 Australia
- Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland Australia
- Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| |
Collapse
|