BMC Public Health is calling for submissions to our Collection on improving the health of incarcerated people.
People incarcerated in prisons and jails often experience higher rates of infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, mental health disorders, and substance use disorders compared to the general population. Factors such as overcrowding, limited access to preventive care, limited access to health care while incarcerated and lack of follow-up after return to communities, insufficient or absent pre-release planning and counseling, and staffing challenges contribute to a complex healthcare landscape within carceral settings. As long as prisons and jails exist, improving the health of incarcerated people is crucial not only for addressing the well-being of individuals behind bars but also for safeguarding public health, because carceral settings are part of communities and prison health is public health. Optimizing health services within carceral settings is needed to mitigate the spread of diseases, improve treatment outcomes, and contribute to the health of people and communities.
Our Collection aims to explore innovative strategies and evidence-based practices that contribute to the optimization of healthcare services in carceral settings. This issue will provide a platform for experts, researchers, and practitioners to share insights, best practices, and research findings, fostering a comprehensive understanding of how healthcare delivery can be improved for people who are incarcerated and the community as a whole. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Integrating mental health services in carceral facilities
- Health education programs for incarcerated people: impact and strategies
- The role of technology in improving healthcare infrastructure in carceral settings
- Preventive healthcare measures in carceral settings
- Community partnerships for enabling healthcare transitions
- Staff training and sensitization in carceral health
- Human rights and dignity in carceral healthcare practices
- Assessing and improving continuity of care for returning citizens
- Impact of decarceration on health outcomes
- Strategies to optimize the healthcare workforce in carceral settings
- Involvement of people with lived experience in designing healthcare interventions in carceral settings
This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Image credit: © Carsten Rehder / dpa