Prison health situation and health rights of young people incarcerated in sub-Saharan African prisons and detention centres: a scoping review of extant literature

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Rosemary Mhlanga-Gunda¹  Marie-Claire Van Hout² 

[1] 0000 0004 0572 0760, grid.13001.33, College of Health Sciences, Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Interventions, Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe;Public Health Institute, Exchange Station, Liverpool John Moore’s University, L32ET, Liverpool, UK;

关键词: Sub Saharan Africa;    Human rights;    Prisons;    Children;    Juveniles;    Adolescents;    Availability and accessibility of health services;    Availability of basic necessities;    Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV);   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12914-019-0200-z

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundTreatment and special protection of the rights of incarcerated young people in prisons are mandated under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as well as under United Nations (UN) human rights instruments.MethodsA scoping review mapped what is currently known about prison conditions and health situation of detained and incarcerated young people in sub- Saharan African (SSA) prisons. A systematic search collected and reviewed all available and relevant published and grey literature. Following application of exclusion measures, 54 records remained, which represented 37 of the 49 SSA countries. These records were charted and thematically analysed.ResultsThe ages of children and adolescents held in SSA prisons ranged from 12 to 18 years. Three main themes were generated during the charting exercise; the prison environment for young people; availability and accessibility of basic necessities and navigating the prison system for health care and outside continuum of care.ConclusionsThe review highlights the grave and continuing deplorable situation of young people held in SSA prisons. The violation of international human rights norms is observed in the systemic abuse and detention of young people with adults. Basic needs are not met in relation to sanitation, ventilation, safe spaces, protection from physical and sexual violence, clothing, food and access to HIV and medical care.

【 授权许可】

CC BY