Prevalence of severe mental illness and substance use disorders among prisoners in africa
1
Pharmacy Practice, DPGU School of Pharmacy and Research, Pune, India
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2467
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
more than 70% of the global prison population resides in low-income and middle-income countries, yet evidence on the burden of disorders in these settings is scarce and largely derived from high-income countries. african prisons are frequently characterized by overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, and limited access, raising major public health and human rights concerns. this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of severe mental illness and substance abuse among prison populations in africa to inform policy and service planning in resource-limited settings.
METHODS:
a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using 17databases to identify studies published between january 1987and may 2018. studies included representative samples from general prison populations in african reporting on psychosis, major depression, alcohol use disorders, and drug use disorders. prevalence ratios were calculated, comparing prison estimates with corresponding general population data obtained from the global burden of disease 2016 study.
RESULTS:
six studies from five african countries were included: burkina faso, nigeria, south africa, south sudan, and togo. prevalence ratios for psychosis among incarcerated men were markedly elevated, reaching 41.67 in burkina faso, 32.31 in south sudan, and 24.74 in south africa. major depression prevalence was 19.05 times higher in burkina faso, while incarcerated women in togo showed a depression prevalence ratio of 12.69. drug use disorders were substantially more prevalent in prisons, with ratios of 11.03in burkina faso and 11.00in togo. alcohol use disorder ratios ranged from 4.50in burkina faso to 5.10in togo, whereas south sudan reported a ratio of 0.90. pooled 1-year prevalence estimates across LMIC prison samples were 6.2%for psychosis and 16.0%for major-depression.
CONCLUSIONS:
psychiatric and substance use disorders are substantially more prevalent among prisoners in african LMICs than in the general population, indicating a profound unmet need for mental health care. scalable, cost-effective interventions and strengthened protection of prisoners’ human rights should be prioritized within correctional health systems.
more than 70% of the global prison population resides in low-income and middle-income countries, yet evidence on the burden of disorders in these settings is scarce and largely derived from high-income countries. african prisons are frequently characterized by overcrowding, inadequate nutrition, and limited access, raising major public health and human rights concerns. this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of severe mental illness and substance abuse among prison populations in africa to inform policy and service planning in resource-limited settings.
METHODS:
a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using 17databases to identify studies published between january 1987and may 2018. studies included representative samples from general prison populations in african reporting on psychosis, major depression, alcohol use disorders, and drug use disorders. prevalence ratios were calculated, comparing prison estimates with corresponding general population data obtained from the global burden of disease 2016 study.
RESULTS:
six studies from five african countries were included: burkina faso, nigeria, south africa, south sudan, and togo. prevalence ratios for psychosis among incarcerated men were markedly elevated, reaching 41.67 in burkina faso, 32.31 in south sudan, and 24.74 in south africa. major depression prevalence was 19.05 times higher in burkina faso, while incarcerated women in togo showed a depression prevalence ratio of 12.69. drug use disorders were substantially more prevalent in prisons, with ratios of 11.03in burkina faso and 11.00in togo. alcohol use disorder ratios ranged from 4.50in burkina faso to 5.10in togo, whereas south sudan reported a ratio of 0.90. pooled 1-year prevalence estimates across LMIC prison samples were 6.2%for psychosis and 16.0%for major-depression.
CONCLUSIONS:
psychiatric and substance use disorders are substantially more prevalent among prisoners in african LMICs than in the general population, indicating a profound unmet need for mental health care. scalable, cost-effective interventions and strengthened protection of prisoners’ human rights should be prioritized within correctional health systems.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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