Prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the prison system in Espírito Santo/Brazil: persons deprived of liberty and justice workers

Abstract

Objective: To present a prevalence study held in prisons and estimate the percentage of persons deprived of liberty, health professionals, and prison officers infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Espírito Santo (ES). Methods: This is a prevalence study with a sample from 34 ES prisons, stratified between August 31 and September 4, 2020, following the Population-based age-stratified seroepidemiological investigation protocol for COVID-19 virus infection. The participants were interviewed and underwent rapid tests to detect immunoglobulin G and M in the groups mentioned. Results: Among 1,830 individuals (311 health professionals, 675 prison officers, and 844 persons deprived of liberty — PDL), the prevalence of COVID-19 infection was 11.89% for health professionals, 22.07% for prison officers, and 31.64% for PDL. Most interviewees were male, aged 21 to 40 years, had completed elementary school and higher education, were multiracial, and situated in the Metropolitan area of Vitória. Conclusion: The prevalence was higher among persons deprived of liberty in the closed regime in all regions, as well as prison officers working in the semi-open regime, particularly in the North region. As for the comparison between regimes and regions, differences were identified between PDL groups with positive test results. Effectively combating COVID-19 within the prison system requires prison release actions, testing, and mass vaccination, as well as other health actions.