1. PRISON HEALTH SERVICES (PHS)
Lecture (9)

2. Introduction
Prison is a place where individuals are kept in custody for a certain period of time for any wrong deeds they commit knowingly or unknowingly having political, social and economic nature.
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3. Main Purpose of Prison Health Service (PHS)
To solve the immediate health problems of the prisoner both physical and mental.
Prisoners do have a right to get health service
To prevent transmission of diseases
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4. To train the prisoners as first aiders.
To teach prisoners the basics of health and change their behavior so that when they are released from the prison to join the community once again, they can transmit whatever health messages, they get in the prison. Thus act as a community health educator.
To prevent the spread of infections and especially chronic ones like TB, Leprosy from the prisoner to the community
To train the prisoners as first aiders.
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5. Common Health Problems in the Prison
Psychological health problem
Problem of food poisoning (dysentery)
Febrile illness like relapsing fever, typhoid, typhus
Intestinal parasites  
Chronic diseases like TB
Skin infections
Malnutrition
Gastroenteritis
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6. Urinary tract infection Arthralgia, rheumatism Homosexuality
Sexually transmissible diseases (STD’s
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7. Major stressors specific to the condition are:
Loss such as loss of job, freedom, family contacts, dignity, food choices
privacy and sexual activities. Threats such as the threats of homosexual, physical discomfort, sleeping, eating and other personal functions. Drugs or alcoholic withdrawal, feelings of infidelity (lack of religion, belief)
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8. Sources of Diseases Prisoners who join the prison with diseases
The prison itself
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9. Factors responsible for the origin and spread of diseases in prisons
Poor housing  
Inadequate ventilation  
Overcrowding  
Malnutrition
Poor personal hygiene  
Poor environmental hygiene
Idleness  
Poor waste disposal
 Prolonged stay in prison  
Lack of knowledge  
Others
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10. Effective PHS goes with change in politics; economics and society while making a survey use a well-structured check list which includes the following points.
Identification of the prison (name, location)  
Construction of the building and their bed rooms
Waste disposal system
Latrine
Water supply
Health facilities
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11. Responsibilities of the PHN during PHS
Work with prison administrators and the prisoners
Organize prisoners and form health committee in the prison  
Identify health and health related problems of the prisoners using a developed checklist.
Make a plan and encourage them to solve the identified problem
Identify the resources of the prison.
Work with other health professionals
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12. Work to solve the identified problems Screening of the prisoners
Treating the sick
Health education
Delousing of the prisoners
Waste disposal system  
Make a follow up
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13. Thank you
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