PREVALENCE OF COMMON MENTAL DISORDERS AMONG PRISONERS IN ANGEREB CORRECTION CENTER, GONDAR, ETHIOPIA

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.