Canadian inmates unhealthy and high risk

Men and women in Canadian jails are unhealthier — often significantly so — than the general population, according to the first-ever study of their health.

The baseline data provided in Health Care Needs Assessment of Federal Inmates Report (Canadian Journal of Public Health Suppl 1, March/April 2004) will be used by Correctional Service Canada to improve services and interventions.

The study finds that Canadian inmates fall short on most health measures:

• 1.8% of inmates are HIV-positive (compared with 0.13% of the general population);

• 4.7% of women, 1.7% of men are HIV-positive;

• 46% of men, 49% of women abuse alcohol;

• 51% of men and 67.5% of women abuse drugs;

• 23.6% have hepatitis C (compared with 0.8% of the general population);

• 31% of women, 15% of men report emotional or mental health problems.

Figure. Who speaks for the health needs of inmates? Photo by: Canapress

The report will be useful in helping to improve service delivery and identifying appropriate interventions, says Lucie McClung, commissioner of Correctional Service Canada.

Delivery of health services in Canada's prisons has traditionally been centred on individual patients. A move to a population health focus is required, says the study's author Dr. Brent Moloughney, a Toronto-based specialist in public health and epidemiology.

He recommends instituting an effective surveillance system for infectious and chronic diseases, developing a comprehensive strategy for detecting and managing mental health problems and implementing a health information system.

“It is unclear who speaks for the health needs of inmates and places them on the agenda of decision-makers,” said Moloughney.

“This is of particular importance for inmates since, as a group, they tend not to generate much public sympathy, nor are health services the primary mandate of [Correctional Service Canada].” — Donalee Moulton, Halifax