Abstract:
Mental health disorders are significantly more prevalent in prison populations compared to the
general public, often exacerbated by poor living conditions, social isolation, and inadequate
healthcare. In Ethiopia, the mental health needs of incarcerated individuals remain under
researched and under-addressed. The aim of the study assesses the prevalence of CMDs among
prisoners in Angereb prison Gondar, Ethiopia. An explanatory concurrent mixed-methods design
was employed, incorporating a cross-sectional survey for the quantitative component and a case
study approach for the qualitative component. The cross-sectional survey was conducted among
1,565 prisoners housed within 318 prison cells at the Angereb prison. Participants were selected
using simple random sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews using a socio
demographic questionnaire, Self-Reporting Questionnaire, and a Likert scale. Statistical analysis
included descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression to identify predictors of common
mental disorders. The prevalence of common mental disorders among the prison population was
49.7%. A total of 318 inmates were identified as experiencing CMDs. Factors significantly
associated with CMDs included age, marital status, incarceration situation, social support,
vulnerability to abuse, educational attainment, occupational status current, substance use, and
terms of incarceration (p < 0.01). The findings indicate a high burden of common mental
disorders among prisoners, highlighting a critical public health issue. The study underscores the
need for integrating mental health services into prison healthcare systems, strengthening
psychosocial support, and implementing targeted interventions to mitigate the mental health
burden among incarcerated populations.
