Institutional, Relational and Sociodemographic Correlates of Quality of Life among Inmates in Correctional Centres in Rivers State, Nigeria
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: Quality of life (QoL) during incarceration may be related to the correctional setting, interpersonal experiences and social support. This study examined institutional, relational and sociodemographic correlates of QoL among adults held in three correctional centres in Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted between 13 May and 30 June 2026 and included 407 adult inmates selected using proportionately allocated systematic sampling. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to construct a study-defined summary score as the arithmetic mean of four 0–100 domain scores. Scores of at least 50 were classified as good QoL for this analysis. Associations were examined using Pearson chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Of 407 participants, 113 (27.8%) met the study-defined criterion for good QoL. In unadjusted analyses, QoL classification was associated with marital status (p = 0.0497), education (p = 0.0290), employment before incarceration (p = 0.0243), legal status (p = 0.0022) and pre-incarceration income (p = 0.0294); sex, age group, religion and incarceration duration were not significantly associated. In the multivariable model, the adjusted odds of good QoL were higher for Degema (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32–5.28) and Ahoada (AOR 2.89, 95% CI 1.43–5.84) than for Port Harcourt, for respondents not reporting psychological abuse (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.36–3.59), and for those reporting regular family visits or social support compared with none (AOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.28–5.86).
Conclusion: Correctional-centre placement, self-reported psychological abuse and family contact or social support were associated with a study-defined QoL classification. Interpretation is limited by the cross-sectional design, small numbers in two centres, and the non-standard summary-score threshold. The findings support further investigation of protective relationships and conditions of confinement.
Keywords: Quality of life, correctional centres, prisoners, WHOQOL-BREF, social support, psychological abuse, Nigeria