Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract BackgroundPrisoner health is a major global concern, with prisoners often facing limited access to health care and enduring chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and poor mental health due to unsafe prison environments, unhygienic living conditions, and inadequate me...

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Main Authors: Yen-Chun Wang, Zhu Liduzi Jiesisibieke, Yu-Pei Yang, Bing-Long Wang, Ming-Chon Hsiung, Tao-Hsin Tung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2024-12-01
Series:JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Online Access:https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e60136
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author Yen-Chun Wang
Zhu Liduzi Jiesisibieke
Yu-Pei Yang
Bing-Long Wang
Ming-Chon Hsiung
Tao-Hsin Tung
author_facet Yen-Chun Wang
Zhu Liduzi Jiesisibieke
Yu-Pei Yang
Bing-Long Wang
Ming-Chon Hsiung
Tao-Hsin Tung
author_sort Yen-Chun Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract BackgroundPrisoner health is a major global concern, with prisoners often facing limited access to health care and enduring chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and poor mental health due to unsafe prison environments, unhygienic living conditions, and inadequate medical resources. In Taiwan, prison health is increasingly an issue, particularly concerning urinary diseases such as urinary tract infections. Limited access to health care and unsanitary conditions exacerbate these problems. Urinary disease epidemiology varies by sex and age, yet studies in Asia are scarce, and comprehensive data on urinary diseases in Taiwanese prisons remain limited. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of urinary diseases among Taiwanese prisoners and explore the differences in disease prevalence between men and women, as well as across different age groups. MethodsThis study used data on prisoners from the National Health Insurance Research Database covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2013. Prisoners covered by National Health Insurance who were diagnosed with urinary diseases, identified by ICD-9-CMInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification ResultsWe examined 83,048 prisoners, including 2998 with urinary diseases. The overall prevalence of urinary system diseases among prisoners was 3.61% (n=2998; n=574, 6.64% in men and n=2424, 3.26% in women). The prevalence rate in men was significantly lower than that in women (prevalence ratio: 0.46, PPICD-9-CMP ConclusionsUrinary system infections and inflammation are common in prisons. Our findings advocate for policy reforms aimed at improving health care accessibility in prisons, with a particular focus on the needs of high-risk groups such as women and older prisoners. Further research linking claims data with prisoner information is crucial to providing more comprehensive medical services and achieving health equity.
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spelling doaj-art-d3d2e4fde746471aa91ab46f500e43f22025-01-02T06:20:49ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Public Health and Surveillance2369-29602024-12-0110e60136e6013610.2196/60136Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional StudyYen-Chun Wanghttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2291-0331Zhu Liduzi Jiesisibiekehttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4986-653XYu-Pei Yanghttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8616Bing-Long Wanghttp://orcid.org/0000-0001-9910-9804Ming-Chon Hsiunghttp://orcid.org/0000-0002-4061-8492Tao-Hsin Tunghttp://orcid.org/0000-0003-2097-8375 Abstract BackgroundPrisoner health is a major global concern, with prisoners often facing limited access to health care and enduring chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and poor mental health due to unsafe prison environments, unhygienic living conditions, and inadequate medical resources. In Taiwan, prison health is increasingly an issue, particularly concerning urinary diseases such as urinary tract infections. Limited access to health care and unsanitary conditions exacerbate these problems. Urinary disease epidemiology varies by sex and age, yet studies in Asia are scarce, and comprehensive data on urinary diseases in Taiwanese prisons remain limited. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence of urinary diseases among Taiwanese prisoners and explore the differences in disease prevalence between men and women, as well as across different age groups. MethodsThis study used data on prisoners from the National Health Insurance Research Database covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2013. Prisoners covered by National Health Insurance who were diagnosed with urinary diseases, identified by ICD-9-CMInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification ResultsWe examined 83,048 prisoners, including 2998 with urinary diseases. The overall prevalence of urinary system diseases among prisoners was 3.61% (n=2998; n=574, 6.64% in men and n=2424, 3.26% in women). The prevalence rate in men was significantly lower than that in women (prevalence ratio: 0.46, PPICD-9-CMP ConclusionsUrinary system infections and inflammation are common in prisons. Our findings advocate for policy reforms aimed at improving health care accessibility in prisons, with a particular focus on the needs of high-risk groups such as women and older prisoners. Further research linking claims data with prisoner information is crucial to providing more comprehensive medical services and achieving health equity.https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e60136
spellingShingle Yen-Chun Wang
Zhu Liduzi Jiesisibieke
Yu-Pei Yang
Bing-Long Wang
Ming-Chon Hsiung
Tao-Hsin Tung
Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
title Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Disparities in the Prevalence of Urinary Diseases Among Prisoners in Taiwan: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort disparities in the prevalence of urinary diseases among prisoners in taiwan population based cross sectional study
url https://publichealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e60136
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