Depression and experience of incarceration in North Central Nigeria: a situation analysis at Makurdi medium security pri
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International Journal of Mental Health Systems Open Access
RESEARCH
Depression and experience of incarceration in North Central Nigeria: a situation analysis at Makurdi medium security prison Emeka Nwefoh1, Chinyere M. Aguocha2* , Grace Ryan3, Philip Ode1, Festus O. Ighagbon4, Oyedele Akinjola5, Samuel Omoi1, Jibril Abdulmalik6, Terkura M. Agbir5, Obekpa Obekpa7, Samuel Ogbole8 and Julian Eaton9
Abstract Background: Human rights watchdogs have described conditions in Nigerian correctional facilities and detention centers as damaging to the physical and mental health of inmates. While the prevalence of mental disorders is high, access to appropriate healthcare is grossly inadequate. Understanding the current state of prison inmates’ mental health and well-being is an essential first step to addressing this important issue. This study aims to document the mental health and experiences of incarceration of inmates of the largest medium security prison in Nigeria’s Benue State. Methods: A cross-sectional survey and descriptive analysis was carried out with a random sample of 381 prison inmates of Benue State Makurdi Medium Security Prison. Survey tools included: (1) a structured questionnaire on participants’ experiences in prison, and (2) the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a screening tool for depression. Results: Most participants were young men (95.5%, mean age 27.95) and had completed secondary school (63.5%). While prison authorities had identified only 27 participants as having a mental disorder, 144 (37.8%) screened positive for depression. Twenty six had received professional counseling while in prison. Of the six participants who were already taking a psychotropic medication at the time of imprisonment, four received medication after being imprisoned. Approximately half, (52%) of participants were dissatisfied with prison health care. Conclusions: Despite the high prevalence of depression among prison inmates, few cases are detected and treated. Prison staff may not recognize depression as a mental disorder, and the mental health care available is generally poor. Inadequate mental health and social care not only affects prison inmates’ well-being, but may also impact recidivism and health outcomes upon release. Prison inmates should be screened routinely for depression and other less-commonly recognized mental health conditions, and appropriate treatment made available. Keywords: Depression, Prison, Experience of incarceration Background In 2018, researchers from around the world launched a global call to action on the mental health of incarcerated people [1]. Noting the dearth of epidemiological and intervention studies on the mental health of prison *Correspondence: [email protected] 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
inmates in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), they proposed that evidence-based task-sharing interventions tested in low-resource community settings could be
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