PRISONS are a microcosm” of Australias poorest health, burdened by hepatitis C and mental illness, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare director Dr Penny Allbon. For the first time, prison health statistics have been included in the AIHWs national health report card, Australia’s Health 2006, with the results reflecting Australian prisoners poor physical and mental health, Dr Allbon said. According to the report, prison entrants were 25 times more likely to have hepatitis C than the general population.Almost 60% of prisoners in NSW, QueenslandTasmania and WA had a history of drug injection and of these 56% had hepatitis C, the report stated.Mental health was also flagged with a study of NSW prisoners finding 78% of men and...
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