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Young prisoners are one of the most vulnerable groups in society for mental health problems and ill-being. Therefore, there is a crucial need to understand their physical, psychological and social situations. This study aims to explore young Cambodian prisoners’ experiences and perceptions of mental health and well-being, their determinants and their coping strategies.

Six focus group discussions were carried out in three prisons with a total of 48 young prisoners between the ages of 15 and 24 years (50% women, 50% men). Semi-structured questions guided the discussions, and thematic analysis was applied to analyse the data.

Young prisoners reported multifaceted experiences of mental health and well-being. The majority described adverse mental health experiences, while some revealed better well-being, partly influenced by the socio-economic support from outside the prisons and previous involvement or not in drug abuse. The experience of physical overcrowding without emotional attachment among the fellow prisoners was perceived as the overarching determinant of loneliness and mental health problems, while socio-emotional support and rituals were described as the most important coping mechanisms.

This pioneering study from Cambodia gives young prisoners an opportunity to voice their experiences and perceptions of mental health and well-being in the prison setting. The findings in this study underline the importance of prison authorities tackling overcrowding to promote well-being and reduce mental health problems. Also, the coping mechanisms outlined by the participants should be considered when planning psychosocial interventions.

Currently, people leaving prisons face concurrent risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the overdose public health emergency. The closure or reduction of community services people rely on after release such as treatment centres and shelters has exacerbated the risks of poor health outcomes and harms. This paper aims to learn from peer health mentors (PHM) about changes to their work during overlapping health emergencies, as well as barriers and opportunities to support people leaving prison in this context.

The Unlocking the Gates (UTG) Peer Health Mentoring Program supports people leaving prison in British Columbia during the first three days after release. The authors conducted two focus groups with PHM over video conference in May 2020. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed, and themes were iteratively developed using narrative thematic analysis.

The findings highlighted the importance of peer health mentorship for people leaving prisons. PHM discussed increased opportunities for collaboration, ways the pandemic has changed how they are able to provide support, and how PHM are able to remain responsive and flexible to meet client needs. Additionally, PHM illuminated ways that COVID-19 has exacerbated existing barriers and identified specific actions needed to support client health, including increased housing and recovery beds, and tools for social and emotional well-being.

This study contributes to our understanding of peer health mentorship during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of mentors. PHM expertise can support release planning, improved health and well-being of people leaving prison and facilitate policy-supported pandemic responses.

This paper reports on insights from an evaluation of Birth Companions (BC) (a UK-based charity) perinatal support in two prison settings in England. The initiative involved the provision of group and/or one-to-one perinatal support and training women prisoners as peer supporters.

A mixed-methods study was undertaken that involved observations of support groups and peer support supervision sessions (n = 9); audio recorded interviews (n = 33) with prison and health-care staff, women in prison, peer supporters and BC staff; analysis of existing routinely collected data by BC and notes undertaken during regular meetings (n = 10) with the BC Project Manager. Thematic analysis was undertaken supported by MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software.

BC provided instrumental/practical support, emotional support, information support, signposting to services and advocating for women to the prison concerning their perinatal needs and rights. Key themes revealed that support had an impact on the lives of perinatal women by creating a safe place characterised by meaningful interactions and women-centred approaches that facilitated access to wider care and support. The service made a difference by empowering women and providing added value for peer supporters, prison, health-care and BC staff. Key enablers and strategies for the care of perinatal women and the delivery of perinatal support are also detailed.

Through longitudinal data and the involvement of a range of stakeholders, this study evidences the subtleties of support provided by BC and the potential it has to make a difference to perinatal women in prison and those volunteering or working within the prison system.

This study aims to assess undernutrition and associated factors among prisoners in Bahir Dar Zone Prison Center, Ethiopia, in 2021.

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 582 prisoners from October 1 to October 30, 2021. An interviewer-administered, semistructured questionnaire was used to collect the required data. The body mass index (BMI) was assessed to determine the nutritional status of prisoners. Data were entered into Epi-Info statistical software version 7 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Both bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with undernutrition. In multivariable binary logistic regression analysis, variables with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significant. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to measure the strength of the association.

The prevalence of undernutrition was 17.5% (95% CI: 14.3, 21). Imprisonment history (AOR: 4.98, 95% CI: 2.80, 8.86), history of cigarette smoking (AOR: 5.38, 95% CI: 2.86, 10.13), imprisonment duration (AOR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.19), diarrheal diseases (AOR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15, 3.41), depression (AOR: 3.23, 95% CI: 1.88, 5.57) and poor social support (AOR: 7.09, 95% CI: 3.57, 14.05) were factors significantly increasing the odds of undernutrition.

This manuscript is an original research article that was conducted by using primary data. The finding of the study implies that the magnitude of undernutrition among prisoners in the Bahir Dar Prison Center was found to be lower than the general population in Ethiopia. Therefore, this paper recommended behavioral change intervention, promotion of mental support and health education, cessation of cigarette smoking and management of diarrheal disease.