Depression level among the prisoners of Hobigonj district jail of Bangladesh

Prison mental health initiative still has not emphasized around the world remarkably. Some of the advanced civilized countries which conform the human right critically has introduced prison mental health initiative. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the level of depression among the prisoners and examine the relationship between depression levels, Jail related events and substance abuse related life style patterns of the respondents. A total of 195 prisoners were selected through non-probability sampling technique using Beck Depression Inventory consisting of 21 questions with clinical diagnostic criteria of depression, Socio-demographic, Lifestyle, and Jail related events questionnaire. Beck Depression Inventory was scored within 0-3 rating scale. The respondents were in between 18 to 77 years age. The mean, ±SD and median age of the respondents were 36.13 ±12.5 and 32 years respectively. This study demonstrated that highest proportion (30%) of the prisoners was living with Moderate Depression. One-fifth (20%) of them were living in prison with Mild Mood Disturbance and its nearest proportion was 18% of the prisoners who were living with Normal Mood. Among the prisoners, 16% had Borderline Clinical Depression and on the other hand 12% of the respondents were suffering from Severe Depression and few (4%) of them were found with Extreme Depression. Relationships between depression levels and some socio-demographic characteristics such as age, religion, and marital status, number of children, occupations, remaining earning members and monthly family income of the respondents were tested and found statistically significant. In addition, relationships between depression levels and substances abuse related lifestyle patterns of the respondents such as Smoking habit, presence or absence of chronic diseases of the respondents were tested and found statistically significant. Study has disclosed significant mood related mental health problems among the prisoners of Bangladesh. Current study findings imply that further prison mental health research should be emphasized and there after grow authority’s attention for prisoners’ mental health of Bangladesh.