Table 1 Summary of the details of the systematic review
References | Country of the study | Kind of study | Topic | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Beijersbergen et al. [16] | Netherlands | Longitudinal study | Mental health and bioethics in prisons | Fair and respectful treatment of prisoners is a predictive factor not only of prison order and respect for rules by prisoners, but also of their psychological well-being |
Reinhart et al. [29] | Illinois (Chicago) | Longitudinal study | Pandemic and bioethics in prisons | Study conducted in Cook County Jail on how a new justice reform during the COVID-19 pandemic could improve the human rights of prisoners |
Puglisi et al. [18] | Connecticut | Sequential explanatory mixed-methods study design | Cancer incidence and bioethics in prisons | Incarceration is associated with decreased cancer screening rates and a higher risk of hospitalization and cancer death after release from prison. Furthermore, there was evidence of differences between socio-economic status, race and ethnicity during the detention regime |
Sasso et al. [19] | Italy | Qualitative descriptive study | Health treatment and bioethics in prisons | An analysis conducted on 31 penitentiary nurses in seven prisons in northern Italy stated that the means of restraint of prisoners does not allow nurses to establish an adequate therapeutic relationship with their patients, giving rise to ethical questions |
Elger et al. [20] | Switzerland | Prevalence study | Tuberculosis screening and bioethics in prisons | Prisons have an extremely high prevalence of tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and poor treatment outcomes. However, prisoners should have the human right to access at least the same level of tuberculosis care as that offered in their communities |
Alemayehu et al. [21] | Ethiopia | Cross-sectional study | Mental health and bioethics in prisons | An incidence of depression was found among prisoners, especially among those with poor general health, long years of imprisonment and worries about children were the most vulnerable. It is absolutely necessary to strengthen mental health services in prisons |
Blue et al. [22] | North Carolina | Survey | HIV treatment/prevention and bioethics in prisons | The analysis highlighted a worsening of access to HIV treatment in prison, a negative impact of prison detention on the continuity of HIV treatment, a reduction in privacy and stigmatization. More outside resources are needed, such as from state and local health departments, so that prisons can promptly provide HIV medications to people with disabilities incarcerated in their facilities |
Green et al. [23] | Ontario | Survey | Access to care in prison and bioethics in prisons | Usually, people entering prison have a need to access primary care, as in most cases they have unmet health needs. Prison could be a time to guarantee care for these people |
Dogbe et al. [24] | Ghana | Survey | Disability in prisons and bioethics | Ninety-nine subjects with disabilities in detention were interviewed; the most common disability was physical, followed by visual, auditory, linguistic, mental and albinism. The study demonstrated the great difficulties these people encountered during their detention regime in Ghana |
Shaw et al. [25] | Switzerland | Survey | Assisted suicide in prison and bioethics | Six inmates were interested in assisted suicide while in prison. Some inmates seek assisted suicide for medical reasons, others because they believe it is undignified to spend the rest of their lives in prison. However, there are strong ethical debates about this opportunity |
Wangmo et al. [26] | Switzerland | Retrospective study | Aging in prisons and bioethics | For older age groups, more healthcare needs were required in prisons. The poorer health conditions of the elderly, their higher healthcare burden posed an ethical debate on the provision of healthcare for inmates aging in prison |
Jones et al. [27] | Ontario | Cross-sectional study | Women's mental health in prisons and bioethics | The female population requiring intensive psychiatric care in an Ontario prison was 3.4%, the ethical issue on the worsening of female psychiatric pathology is still debated |
Shrestha et al. [30] | Nepal | Cross-sectional study | Risk of suicide and depression in prisons and bioethics | Approximately 2.3% reported suicidal ideation while incarcerated and 0.9% attempted suicide within prison. It was significantly associated with prior incarceration, poor self-rated health, and weight loss. The ethical issue is always debated and a major social problem |
Strodel et al. [31] | Washington, D.C | Prevalence study | COVID-19 vaccination in prisons and bioethics | During the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 it was shown that prisoners had difficult access to vaccines, highlighting an ethical problem for prisoners in treatment |
de Araújo et al. [32] | Brazil | Prevalence study | Women in prisons and bioethics | In Brazil, 39% of women with children in prison had children under the age of 10 who were then entrusted to the care of others. Prisons were crowded, with more than 2/3 of inmates sharing a cell with 6 or more inmates. Women had not been screened for cervical or breast cancer in the past 3 years |
Crowley et al. [33] | Ireland | Prevalence study | HCV treatment in prisons and bioethics | A major barrier to HCV care and treatment in prisons was highlighted. Incarceration could provide a unique opportunity to enhance HCV treatment and strengthen community connections |
Liu et al. [34] | Northern California | Prevalence study | COVID-19 treatment in prison and bioethics | Prisoners also revealed insufficient access to masks, which was associated with an increase in COVID-19 cases and worsening mental health. Prison settings present significant challenges in maintaining infection control and human rights |