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Sánchez-Recio R, Samper-Pardo M, Llopis-Lambán R, Oliván-Blázquez B, Cerdan-Bernad M, Magallón-Botaya R. Self-rated health impact of COVID 19 confinement on inmates in Southeastern of Europe: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2183. [PMID: 37936162 PMCID: PMC10631134 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17088-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the implementation of various measures within closed institutions like prisons to control the spread of the virus. Analyzing the impact of these measures on the health of inmates is crucial from a public health perspective. This study aimed to explore inmates' subjective perception of the COVID-19 lockdown, the implemented measures, their physical self-perception, and their views on the vaccination process. METHOD Between April 2021 and January 2022, 27 semi-structured individual interviews and 1 focus group were conducted with inmates in a prison located in northwest Spain. The interviews were conducted in person and audio-recorded. Thematic content analysis was employed, utilizing methodological triangulation to enhance the coherence and rigor of the results. RESULTS The analysis revealed two main themes and nine subthemes. The first theme focused on inmates' perception of the implementation of protective measures against COVID-19 within the prison and its impact on their well-being. The second theme explored the pandemic's emotional impact on inmates. All participants reported negative consequences on their health resulting from the measures implemented by the institution to contain the pandemic. However, they acknowledged that measures like lockdowns and mass vaccination helped mitigate the spread of the virus within the prison, contrary to initial expectations. CONCLUSION COVID-19 and related measures have directly affected the health of inmates. To improve their health and minimize the impact of pandemic-induced changes, community participation and empowerment of individuals are essential tools, particularly within closed institutions such as prisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Sánchez-Recio
- Research Group on Health Services in Aragon (GRISSA), Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Social and Labor Sciences, University of Zaragoza, C/ Violante de Hungría (23), Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
- Institute for Health Research in Aragon (IIS Aragón), C. de San Juan Bosco, 13, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
- Zaragoza Penitentiary Center, Autovía A-23, Km, 328, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Mario Samper-Pardo
- Department of medicine, Facultad de Medicina Edificio A, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 5009, Spain
| | | | - Bárbara Oliván-Blázquez
- Institute for Health Research in Aragon (IIS Aragón), C. de San Juan Bosco, 13, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Calle de Violante de Hungría, 23, Zaragoza, 2009, Spain.
| | | | - Rosa Magallón-Botaya
- Institute for Health Research in Aragon (IIS Aragón), C. de San Juan Bosco, 13, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
- Department of medicine, Facultad de Medicina Edificio A, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, 5009, Spain
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Vella R, Giuga G, Piizzi G, Alunni Fegatelli D, Petroni G, Tavone AM, Potenza S, Cammarano A, Mandarelli G, Marella GL. Health Management in Italian Prisons during COVID-19 Outbreak: A Focus on the Second and Third Wave. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10020282. [PMID: 35206896 PMCID: PMC8872369 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 spread is a threatening and challenging issue for correctional systems worldwide because of many factors, particularly overcrowding and of the intrinsic characteristics of the population. The prevention measures adopted by the Italian Government were aimed to protect and preserve both inmates’ and prison workers’ health. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the adopted strategies. Methods: Data regarding Italian prisons’ occupation and prisoners’ population from January 2019 to June 2021, as well as the cumulative weekly increase of confirmed cases and the number of doses of vaccine administered among the population of inmates, the prison workers, and Italian population from November 2020 to the end of June 2021, were collected. Results: Prisons’ occupation dropped from 120% to 106% after the beginning of the pandemics. The confirmed cases between inmates were consistently lower than among the Italian population and prison workers. A time-series chart showed a time lag of one week between the peaks of the different population. Conclusions: The containing strategies adopted by the Italian correctional system have proved their effectiveness in terms of the prevention and protection of both inmate and staff health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimondo Vella
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (G.P.); (G.P.); (A.M.T.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Gabriele Giuga
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (G.P.); (G.P.); (A.M.T.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Giorgia Piizzi
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (G.P.); (G.P.); (A.M.T.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Danilo Alunni Fegatelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giulia Petroni
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (G.P.); (G.P.); (A.M.T.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandro Mauro Tavone
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (G.P.); (G.P.); (A.M.T.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Saverio Potenza
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (G.P.); (G.P.); (A.M.T.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Andrea Cammarano
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy; (G.G.); (G.P.); (G.P.); (A.M.T.); (S.P.); (A.C.)
| | - Gabriele Mandarelli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 7024 Bari, Italy;
| | - Gian Luca Marella
- Forensic Pathology Section, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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