Prisons and Health: Two New Studies Published by Santé publique France
Prisoners are a particularly vulnerable population: they are in poorer health than the general population, starting from the moment they enter detention. As part of its work on health in prisons, Santé publique France is publishing two studies conducted in collaboration with the French prison administration.
Prison is a unique environment in which various populations live, face health issues, engage in risky behaviors, and/or are exposed to health risks. The poor health status of inmates constitutes a public health issue in its own right, given the clinical needs identified by somatic and mental health professionals during initial intake consultations. A significant proportion of the prison population appears to be socially disadvantaged, facing multiple risk factors associated with precarious living conditions. They are also exposed to risks linked to incarceration and deprivation of liberty, which may be exacerbated by prison conditions.
Santé publique France continues its work on health in the prison setting and publishes two studies in collaboration with the prison administration, the results of which are presented in the form of reports.
The study "Suicides and Other Deaths in Prisons in France Between 2000 and 2010: The Contribution of Death Certificates to Understanding and Monitoring Mortality" shows that, over a 10-year period, half of the 2,541 deaths among inmates were suicides. This rate is significantly higher than in the general French population (seven times higher for men and 20 times higher for women). This original study, based on the cross-referencing of death certificates and information provided by the prison administration, represents a step toward an epidemiological surveillance system for suicides in detention. Improving the reporting of medical information, particularly regarding any underlying conditions (psychiatric or somatic) associated with suicide, would enable the analysis of environmental factors related to incarceration and factors linked to morbidity among incarcerated individuals.
Download the report
The study "Investigation of clustered cases of leptospirosis among inmates at a prison in the Île-de-France region" describes an epidemiological investigation conducted in February 2016, following the reporting of two cases of leptospirosis among inmates at a prison in the Paris region. At the conclusion of this investigation, conducted by the Île-de-France Regional Response Unit and the Division of Infectious Diseases in collaboration with the Prison Administration, no other cases were identified, and preventive measures were implemented for the benefit of both inmates and prison staff: enhanced measures to control rat infestations (reservoirs of the bacteria responsible for this disease), personal protective equipment, and catch-up vaccinations for individuals engaged in high-risk activities.
