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Prevalence and Prevention of Health Problems Among Inmates in Agodi Gate Correctional Centre, Ibadan

John Betiku, a, Oluwabunmi Hannah Aremo, b, Emmanuel Olusegun Abe, a, Rachael, Omotomilayo Ajayi, c, Adenike Kaosarat Alabi, d, Kelechi Princess John, d, orcid ---

Abstract

Although physical, mental, and social well-being are fundamental health rights, incarcerated populations encounter persistent structural barriers to health equity, elevating their vulnerability to infectious outbreaks and psychological distress. In Nigeria, prison HIV prevalence is double the national average, exemplified by facilities such as Agodi Gate Correctional Centre in Ibadan, which holds 1,276 inmates despite a design capacity of 390. This study evaluated the prevalence of physical, mental, and infectious morbidities among inmates at Agodi Gate. It utilizes a cross-sectional design, stratified random sampling was conducted to enroll 348 inmates. Primary data were gathered using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (version 20) via descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests for statistical association. The findings showed that 76.7% of participants experienced mental health disorders, 56.6% had infectious diseases, and 56.0% reported physical illnesses. Inadequate nutrition (63%) and adverse environmental conditions (60%) emerged as key risk drivers. Preventive measures remained underutilized, with 77.6% of respondents indicating that communicable conditions were typically diagnosed only after progressing to severe symptomatic stages. Major operational barriers included insufficient funding (87.6%), inadequate infrastructure (84.5%), and acute staffing deficits (82.5%). Addressing these critical health disparities requires mandatory institutional health screening, routine immunizations, and the transition of correctional healthcare governance to the Ministry of Health to integrate inmate care within the broader national healthcare framework.

Keywords

InmatesCorrectional CentreHealth PrevalenceMental HealthInfectious DiseasesNigeriaHealthcare Implementation.

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