Nutritional Status of Inmates in the Central Prison of Mbuji-Mayi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Background The nutritional situation in prisons of developing countries and the health status inmates remain a major human rights concern. objective study was to assess jailed prison Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). Methods This cross-sectional conducted over 4-month period Central Prison Mbuji-Mayi, DRC. Three hundred were selected according Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Severe malnutrition defined Buzby index Nutritional Risk Index (NRI). Data analyzed by Stata™ (version12.0). Results aged between 18 70 years primarily males (88.7%). Of them, 24% suffering from severe 62% moderate as based on NRI. At time study, 88% incarcerated for more than 6 months. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that factors independently associated with incarceration months (OR=5.1; 95% CI (1.5-17.4)), origin food (prison vs. family or NGO) (OR=4.7; (1.6-13.8)) presence tuberculosis, immunodeficiency virus and/or intestinal infections (OR=2.6; (1.4-4.7)). Conclusions Mbuji-Mayi is precarious. There urgent need supply enough nutrient-rich improve inmates.