PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN A POPULATION DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY IN A STATE PENITENTIARY
Keywords:
NCDs, People deprived of liberty, Prison health, Drug use, HypertensionAbstract
Worldwide, the total prison population exceeds 10.7 million people. According to the World Prison Brief, from the Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research, the United States has the largest prison population in the world, with 1,767,200 individuals incarcerated (2021), followed by China, with 1,690,000 individuals (2018). Brazil ranks third, with 839,672 people incarcerated (June 2022), representing a rate of 390 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants. Of these, 5.4% are women, with men making up the vast majority of the prison population. Brazil has a total of 1,384 institutions to meet this demand, with an official capacity of 482,875 inmates, which represents an occupancy rate of 173.9%, indicating a serious problem of overcrowding in the prison system. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors in the prison population of the Ponta Grossa State Penitentiary. A cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive cohort study was conducted, analyzing the medical records of 407 inmates. The prevalence of hypertension was 5.42%, dyslipidemia 0.74%, diabetes mellitus 0.49%, and illicit drug use 37.68%. Statistical analysis did not reveal a significant association between illicit drug use and NCDs, although trends suggest a relationship. The results indicate a young prison population with a high prevalence of illicit drug use. Although the prevalence of NCDs was low, these individuals are at higher risk of developing these conditions, especially due to the challenges of prison life and limited access to health care. It is crucial to improve health interventions in this population, which may have broader public health implications.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Thiago Martins Figueiredo, Matheus Von Jelita Salina, Eduardo Machado Dechandt, Luana Martins de Oliveira, Maria Clara da Silva Rodriguez Rivas, Vitor Hugo Moro Pironatto, Adriana Yuriko Koga, Fabiana Postiglione Mansani

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