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Review
. 2024 Sep 17;20(4):393-409.
doi: 10.1108/IJOPH-01-2024-0005. Print 2024 Dec 5.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in prison population: a meta-analysis of 35 studies

SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi  1 , Soudabeh Yarmohammadi  2 , Farid Farahani Rad  3 , Muhammad Ali Rasheed  3 , Mohammad Javaherian  3 , Amir Masoud Afsahi  4 , Haleh Siami  5 , AmirBehzad Bagheri  6 , Ali Zand  3 , Omid Dadras  1 , Esmaeil Mehraeen  7
Affiliations
Review

Prevalence of COVID-19 in prison population: a meta-analysis of 35 studies

SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi et al. Int J Prison Health (2024). .

Abstract

Purpose: COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Considering the restricted and enclosed nature of prisons and closed environments and the prolonged and close contact between individuals, COVID-19 is more likely to have a higher incidence in these settings. This study aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among prisoners.

Design/methodology/approach: Papers published in English from 2019 to July 7, 2023, were identified using relevant keywords such as prevalence, COVID-19 and prisoner in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar. For the meta-analysis of the prevalence, Cochrane's Q statistics were calculated. A random effect model was used due to the heterogeneity in COVID-19 prevalence across included studies in the meta-analysis. All analyses were performed in STATA-13.

Findings: The pooled data presented a COVID-19 prevalence of 20% [95%CI: 0.13, 0.26] and 24% [95%CI: 0.07, 0.41], respectively, in studies that used PCR and antibody tests. Furthermore, two study designs, cross-sectional and cohort, were used. The results of the meta-analysis showed studies with cross-sectional and cohort designs reported 20% [95%CI: 0.11, 0.29] and 25% [95%CI: 0.13, 0.38], respectively.

Originality/value: Through more meticulous planning, it is feasible to reduce the number of individuals in prison cells, thereby preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Prevalence; Prisoners; SARS-CoV-2.

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References

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