Quality of Life of Inmates in Correctional Centres in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Multi-facility Cross-sectional Study using the WHOQOL-BREF
Mary Obidiya Okuku *
Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Anthony Ike Wegbom
Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Clement Edet
Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Adeniyi Francis Fagbamigbe
Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Incarceration exposes people to overcrowding, restricted contact with family and limited health care, all of which can erode quality of life (QoL). Evidence on inmates’ QoL in Nigeria is limited and mostly single-site. This study assessed QoL among inmates in three correctional centres in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methods: A descriptive, facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 13 May and 30 June 2026 among adult awaiting-trial and convicted inmates in the Port Harcourt, Ahoada and Degema correctional centres. Participants were selected by proportionate stratified systematic random sampling and completed a structured questionnaire that included the 26-item WHOQOL-BREF (0–100 scale). An overall QoL score below 50 was classified as poor QoL, following Galgam et al. (2025), who dichotomised the scale into good and poor quality of life because the WHOQOL-BREF has no validated cut-off. Data were analysed descriptively with SPSS version 25.
Results: Of 423 questionnaires distributed, 407 were completed (response rate 96.2%). The mean age was 37.3 ± 11.4 years, and 80.8% were male. The mean overall QoL score was 40.3 ± 11.4, and 72.2% of inmates had poor QoL. The environment (32.1 ± 10.8) and social relationships (38.7 ± 15.2) domains had the lowest scores, followed by the psychological (41.5 ± 13.5) and physical health (44.2 ± 12.1) domains. Overall, 46.2% rated their QoL as poor or very poor and 44.0% were dissatisfied with their health. Poor QoL was more frequent at the maximum-security Port Harcourt centre (76.0%) than at Degema (53.3%) and Ahoada (51.5%), with mean overall scores of 39.0, 45.2, and 45.8, respectively.
Conclusion: Most inmates in Rivers State correctional centres have poor QoL, particularly in the environmental and social domains, and the burden is greatest in the largest, maximum-security centre. Improving living conditions, access to health care, and family contact should be priorities for correctional and public health policy.
Keywords: Quality of life, WHOQOL-BREF, prisoners, correctional centres, Nigeria, Rivers State