Psychological distress among re-education through labour camp detainees in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China

Abstract

Background: There is currently no information about the prevalence of, and factors contributing to psychological distress experienced by re-education through labour camp detainees in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was conducted in three labour camps in Guangxi, China. The questionnaire covered socio-demographic characteristics; sexually transmissible infections (STIs); drug use; psychological distress (K-10); and health service usage and access inside the labour camps. K-10 scores were categorised as ≤30 (low to moderate distress) and  >30 or more (highly distressed). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models identified factors independently associated with high K-10 scores for men and women separately.

Results: In total, 755 detainees, 576 (76%) men and 179 (24%) women, participated in the health survey. The study found 11.6% men versus 11.2% women detainees experienced high psychological distress, but no significant gender differences were observed (p> 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that multiple physical health problems were significantly associated with high psychological distress among men.

Conclusion: Drug treatment and forensic mental health services need to be established in detention centres in China to treat more than 10% of detainees with drug use and mental health disorders.

• prisoners
• China
• psychological distress
• K-10
• labour camps

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by the Chinese Government HIV/AIDS Program (#131-11-0001-0501) and funded by AusAID as part of the Australian Development Research Award (ADRA) (#49528). The study funders had no involvement in the study design, analysis, and interpretation of the findings or writing of this report. Tony Butler is supported by an ARC Future Fellowship (#FT0991864). We are grateful to the various government organisations who made this study possible and to the detainees who participated in this study.

Declaration of interest

Three of the coauthors are connected with the National or Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC), China Ministry of Health. This study was funded by Australian Development Research Award (ADRA) (#49528).

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed herein reflect the collective views of the coauthors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, or the funding agency, AusAID.

Patient consent

Obtained.