INCIDENCE OF SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN PRISONS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN 2010–2023
Authors:   Izhevsk State Medical Academy, Izhevsk, Russia, Ponomarev Sergey ,   Research Institute of the Federal Penitentiary Service, Moscow, Russia, Mikhaylova Yuliya ,   Russian Research Institute of Health, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, Sterlikov Sergey ,   Russian Research Institute of Health, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, Mikhaylov Aleksandr ,   Russian Research Institute of Health, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, Pankova Yana ,   Russian Research Institute of Health, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
Published: August 2024

Significance. Analyzing incidence of socially significant infectious diseases in prisons allows us to establish their prevalence among socially vulnerable groups of the population. The contingent of the prisons suffering from infectious diseases is able to maintain the tension of the epidemic situation. The purpose of the study: to analyze dynamics in the incidence of socially significant infectious diseases in prisons, including in the context of its dynamics among socially vulnerable segments of the population. Material and methods. Forms of departmental statistical observation, as well as statistical publications were analyzed. We calculated morbidity rates per 100,000 newly arrested in pre-trial detention centers, per 100,000 average convicts in correctional facilities, and for the penitentiary system as a whole for 2010–2023. Results. The incidence of syphilis decreased in pre-trial detention centers from 1459.3 to 237.6; in correctional facilities – from 95.5 to 6.7; in the penal system – from 492.9 to 100.7. A relative risk of syphilis in the penal system compared to the civil healthcare (RRps) was on average 7.8±0.5(1.7) in 2010–2013. The incidence of gonococcal infection decreased in pre-trial detention centers from 150.7 to 17.4; in correctional facilities from 14.8 to 0.7; in the penal system from 54.4 to 7.5. RRps=1.2±0.1(0.2). The HIV incidence in pre-trial detention centers in 2010–2017 increased from 2641.5 to 4356.2, followed by a decrease to 1965.0 in 2013. The HIV incidence in correctional institutions in 2010–2012 increased from 326.9 to 520.5, followed by a decrease to 109.6 in 2013. The HIV incidence in the penal system in 2010–2015 increased from 1001.4 to 1509.4, followed by a decrease in 2023 to 865.2. RRps=24.0±0.7(2.6). The incidence of viral hepatitis B and C changed in different directions. For viral hepatitis B, the median RRps was 4.6, for viral hepatitis C, RRps=8.7±0.7(2.5). The incidence of tuberculosis decreased in pre-trial detention centers from 1594.4 to 871.8; in correctional facilities from 1211.8 to 310.5; in the penal system from 1323.3 to 539.1. RRuis=18.7±0.4(1.3). Conclusion. A relative risk of identifying socially significant infectious diseases in prisons is the highest for HIV and tuberculosis, and much lower for syphilis, viral hepatitis B and C, and gonococcal infection. There is an improvement in the epidemiological situation regarding socially significant infections (except for hepatitis) among socially vulnerable groups of the population. Scope of application. The study results can be used by health executives.