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Abstract
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of major non-communicable disease (NCD) outcomes and explore the lifestyle and institutional factors associated with NCDs of inmates in selected prisons of Punjab, Pakistan.
Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 425 under-trial and convicted inmates aged 18–60 years. Information on lifestyle behaviours, anthropometric measurements, environment in prison and factors in the prison was gathered through questionnaires and the necessary measurements were taken. Depression and anxiety were assessed using PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals were reported.
Results: A total of 91.5% of prisoners had at least one NCD. Common NCD outcomes were depression (65.9%), obesity (57.9%), anxiety (55.3%) and high blood pressure (26.4%). The behavioural risk score was independently associated with any NCD (AOR=1.54). Both high blood pressure and age were higher with each strata of legal-status, as well as BMI. Environmental risk was associated with depression among under-trial (AOR=3.51) and convicted inmates (AOR=2.29). Institutional risk was independently associated with anxiety in both strata.
Conclusion: The outcomes of NCD events were frequently reported, and had behavioural, anthropometric, environmental and institutional correlational patterns. The current cross-sectional results suggest that there are be multidimensional differences in NCD morbidity, but they cannot be used to draw causal conclusions.