Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of prisoners infected and deceased by COVID-19, National Penitentiary Institute of Peru, 2020.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of inmates who were infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons from April to October 2020. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study with a secondary data source. All the inmates who were infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons during the study period were considered. The information was collected through the validated data collection sheet and was analyzed with descriptive statistics applying the SPSS v26 software. RESULTS: 37,103 (42.3%) inmates were analyzed out of a prison population of 87,754. All of them reactive to the rapid test, with a mean age of 39.9 ± 12.6 years; 95.5% were male. 60.1% were IgG reactive; 36.1% were IgM/IgG reactive and 3.8% were IgM reactive. 20.1% of reactive inmates had COVID-19 symptoms at the time of testing. The most frequent symptoms were headache (55.6%), general malaise (49.7%), fever (49.0%) and cough (48.0%). Among the risk factors for COVID-19 were: age over 60 years (8.4%), high blood pressure (2.8%) and diabetes mellitus (2.4%). 445 deaths were registered. Total fatality reached 1.2% of the number of infected. The highest number of deaths was recorded in April and May (89 and 162, respectively). DISCUSSION: The study findings imply different approaches to managing epidemics in the prison context compared to the general population. The short and long term scenarios are uncertain, but the need to reorganize the prison health system, and to prioritise and modernise it are evident. The long-delayed reform of the prison system and the measures that set out to contain the spread of the COVID-19 disease in prisons are related processes in this regard.

Características clínico-epidemiológicas de los reclusos infectados y fallecidos por COVID-19, según datos del Instituto Nacional Penitenciario del Perú de 2020 / Clinical-epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 infected and deceased inmates, based on data from the Peruvian National Penitentiary Institute 2020

Objetivos: Describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de reclusos infectados y fallecidos por enfermedad por coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) en el Perú en el Instituto Nacional Penitenciario (INPE), en el periodo de abril a octubre del 2020.Material y método: Estudio descriptivo, transversal retrospectivo, de fuente de datos secundaria. Se consideró la totalidad de los internos infectados y fallecidos por COVID-19 en el INPE durante el periodo del estudio. La información se recopiló mediante la ficha de recolección de datos validada y fue analizada con la estadística descriptiva aplicando el software Statistical Package for Social Science en su versión 26 (SPSS v26).Resultados: De una población penitenciaria de 87.754 reclusos, se analizaron 37.103 internos (el 42,3%), siendo todos ellos reactivos a la prueba rápida, con edad media de 39,9 ± 12,6 años; el 95,5% eran varones. El 60,1% eran reactivos a inmunoglobulina (Ig) G; el 36,1%, IgM/IgG reactivos; y el 3,8%, IgM reactivos. El 20,1% de los reclusos reactivos tenían síntomas de COVID-19 en el momento de realizar la prueba. Los síntomas de mayor frecuencia eran cefalea (55,6%), malestar general (49,7%), fiebre (49,0%) y tos (48,0%). Entre los factores del riesgo para la COVID-19, predominaron la edad mayor de 60 años (8,4%), hipertensión arterial (2,8%) y diabetes mellitus (2,4%). Asimismo, se registraron 445 fallecidos. La letalidad total alcanzó el 1,2% del número de infectados. En los meses de abril y mayo, se registró el mayor número de fallecidos (89 y 162, respectivamente). (AU)

Objectives: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of inmates who were infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons from April to October 2020.Material and method: Descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study with a secondary data source. All the inmates whowere infected and died from COVID-19 in Peruvian prisons during the study period were considered. The informationwas collected through the validated data collection sheet and was analyzed with descriptive statistics applying the SPSS v26software.Results: 37,103 (42.3%) inmates were analyzed out of a prison population of 87,754. All of them reactive to the rapid test,with a mean age of 39.9 ± 12.6 years; 95.5% were male. 60.1% were IgG reactive; 36.1% were IgM/IgG reactive and 3.8%were IgM reactive. 20.1% of reactive inmates had COVID-19 symptoms at the time of testing. The most frequent symptoms were headache (55.6%), general malaise (49.7%), fever (49.0%) and cough (48.0%). Among the risk factors for COVID-19were: age over 60 years (8.4%), high blood pressure (2.8%) and diabetes mellitus (2.4%). 445 deaths were registered. Totalfatality reached 1.2% of the number of infected. The highest number of deaths was recorded in April and May (89 and 162,respectively).Discussion: The study findings imply different approaches to managing epidemics in the prison context compared to thegeneral population. The short and long term scenarios are uncertain, but the need to reorganize the prison health system,and to prioritise and modernise it are evident. The long-delayed reform of the prison system and the measures that set out tocontain the spread of the COVID-19 disease in prisons are related processes in this regard. (AU)

Experiences of incarcerated mothers living with their children in a prison in Lima, Peru, 2020: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: This study explores the experiences of incarcerated women living with their children in the Women Chorrillos Penitentiary, Lima, Peru, 2020. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Qualitative, exploratory study with a phenomenological design, through semi-structured interviews with inmates who lived with their minor in the prison. In total there were 13 interviews considering the theoretical saturation of categories. RESULTS: The experiences consisted of mostly negative intrapersonal experiences, related to different individual aspects and the conditions of confinement and prison treatment. Serious deficiencies perceived in the health care of inmates and children stand out, with emphasis on mistreatment and indifference on the part of the staff. Other factors involved in the construction of these experiences were identified. DISCUSSION: The results provide evidence of serious structural and organizational deficiencies that violate the fundamental rights of the population group studied. Government efforts to date are partial and insufficient. Sustainable policies and programs are urgently needed that prioritize quality health care and adequate prison treatment for these people with an emphasis on preventive promotional actions. There is a need for evidence-based interventions to reduce the harmful effects of childhood incarceration.