Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in Africa
ABSTRACT The situation of correctional facilities in African countries represents a critical threat to health due to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and limited access to medical services. With over 3000 facilities and nearly a million incarcerated individuals, the prevalence of health conditi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Public Health Challenges |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70020 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846101782062694400 |
|---|---|
| author | Praise Oyedepo Okunlola Abdulhammed Opeyemi Babatunde David Mobolaji Akoki Opeyemi Temitope Ilori Victor Oluwafemi Femi‐Lawal Favour Mofiyinfoluwa Abiona Samuel Tobi Tundealao |
| author_facet | Praise Oyedepo Okunlola Abdulhammed Opeyemi Babatunde David Mobolaji Akoki Opeyemi Temitope Ilori Victor Oluwafemi Femi‐Lawal Favour Mofiyinfoluwa Abiona Samuel Tobi Tundealao |
| author_sort | Praise Oyedepo Okunlola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The situation of correctional facilities in African countries represents a critical threat to health due to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and limited access to medical services. With over 3000 facilities and nearly a million incarcerated individuals, the prevalence of health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders, and tuberculosis is alarmingly high. These conditions are exacerbated by physical and psychological abuse and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the health needs of incarcerated individuals in Africa remain largely neglected. This article provides a review of the health status of incarcerated individuals in Africa, drawing on limited available data. Lessons from developed countries highlight the potential for effective interventions through structured healthcare programs and policies. Recommendations include adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) prison health framework, improving judicial efficiency to reduce overcrowding, ensuring healthcare is managed by health ministries, and establishing rehabilitation centers. These measures are crucial for integrating incarcerated individuals back into society and achieving equitable health coverage in Africa. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8dd8b458c0374cb091e7aff9a7d091f8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2769-2450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Public Health Challenges |
| spelling | doaj-art-8dd8b458c0374cb091e7aff9a7d091f82024-12-28T13:06:30ZengWileyPublic Health Challenges2769-24502024-12-0134n/an/a10.1002/puh2.70020Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in AfricaPraise Oyedepo Okunlola0Abdulhammed Opeyemi Babatunde1David Mobolaji Akoki2Opeyemi Temitope Ilori3Victor Oluwafemi Femi‐Lawal4Favour Mofiyinfoluwa Abiona5Samuel Tobi Tundealao6Faculty of Dentistry College of Medicine University of Ibadan Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaFaculty of Clinical Sciences College of Medicine University of Ibadan Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaFaculty of Clinical Sciences College of Medicine University of Ibadan Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaFaculty of Clinical Sciences College of Medicine University of Ibadan Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaFaculty of Clinical Sciences College of Medicine University of Ibadan Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaFaculty of Clinical Sciences College of Medicine University of Ibadan Ibadan Oyo State NigeriaDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Rutgers School of Public Health Piscataway New Jersey USAABSTRACT The situation of correctional facilities in African countries represents a critical threat to health due to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and limited access to medical services. With over 3000 facilities and nearly a million incarcerated individuals, the prevalence of health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, mental health disorders, and tuberculosis is alarmingly high. These conditions are exacerbated by physical and psychological abuse and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the health needs of incarcerated individuals in Africa remain largely neglected. This article provides a review of the health status of incarcerated individuals in Africa, drawing on limited available data. Lessons from developed countries highlight the potential for effective interventions through structured healthcare programs and policies. Recommendations include adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) prison health framework, improving judicial efficiency to reduce overcrowding, ensuring healthcare is managed by health ministries, and establishing rehabilitation centers. These measures are crucial for integrating incarcerated individuals back into society and achieving equitable health coverage in Africa.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70020Africadeveloping countryequitable health coveragehealthcareincarcerated |
| spellingShingle | Praise Oyedepo Okunlola Abdulhammed Opeyemi Babatunde David Mobolaji Akoki Opeyemi Temitope Ilori Victor Oluwafemi Femi‐Lawal Favour Mofiyinfoluwa Abiona Samuel Tobi Tundealao Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in Africa Public Health Challenges Africa developing country equitable health coverage healthcare incarcerated |
| title | Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in Africa |
| title_full | Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in Africa |
| title_short | Toward Equitable Health Care: Bridging the Gap in the Health of Incarcerated Individuals in Africa |
| title_sort | toward equitable health care bridging the gap in the health of incarcerated individuals in africa |
| topic | Africa developing country equitable health coverage healthcare incarcerated |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70020 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT praiseoyedepookunlola towardequitablehealthcarebridgingthegapinthehealthofincarceratedindividualsinafrica AT abdulhammedopeyemibabatunde towardequitablehealthcarebridgingthegapinthehealthofincarceratedindividualsinafrica AT davidmobolajiakoki towardequitablehealthcarebridgingthegapinthehealthofincarceratedindividualsinafrica AT opeyemitemitopeilori towardequitablehealthcarebridgingthegapinthehealthofincarceratedindividualsinafrica AT victoroluwafemifemilawal towardequitablehealthcarebridgingthegapinthehealthofincarceratedindividualsinafrica AT favourmofiyinfoluwaabiona towardequitablehealthcarebridgingthegapinthehealthofincarceratedindividualsinafrica AT samueltobitundealao towardequitablehealthcarebridgingthegapinthehealthofincarceratedindividualsinafrica |