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The prevalence and health status of people with developmental disabilities in provincial prisons in Ontario, Canada: A retrospective cohort study
Author(s) -
Whittingham Lisa,
Durbin Anna,
Lin Elizabeth,
Matheson Flora I.,
Volpe Tiziana,
Dastoori Parisa,
Calzavara Andrew,
Lunsky Yona,
Kouyoumdjian Fiona
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12757
Subject(s) - prison , imprisonment , medicine , psychiatry , population , cohort , mental health , health care , gerontology , psychology , environmental health , criminology , economics , economic growth
Background Data on the prevalence of developmental disabilities in people who experience imprisonment and on their characteristics are lacking. Methods The present authors identified adults with developmental disabilities who were released from Ontario provincial prisons in 2010 and a general population comparator group using administrative data. The present authors examined demographic characteristics, morbidity and healthcare use. Results The prevalence of developmental disabilities was 2.2% in the prison group ( N = 52,302) and 0.7% in the general population ( N = 10,466,847). The prevalence of psychotic illness, substance‐related disorder and self‐harm was higher among people in the prison group with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities were more likely to have emergency department visits and hospitalizations in prison and in the year after release. Conclusions People with developmental disabilities are overrepresented in provincial prisons and have a high burden of disease. Strategies are indicated to prevent incarceration and to improve health.