Excess non-COVID-19 mortality in Uruguay prisons in 2021 vs. 2014-2023.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the excess deaths due to non-COVID-19 pathologies in Uruguayan prisons in 2021 vs. 2014-2023, and analyse the factors that contributed to them.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: A non-experimental case study with quantitative and qualitative retrospective analysis was conducted. All available data on the causes and circumstances of prisoner deaths from the year 2021 vs. 2014-2023 were analysed. Contingency and risk tables were prepared. A care process analysis tool was used in the qualitative study.

RESULTS

In 2021, a significant increase of deaths caused by diseases not due to COVID-19 was documented (rate person-years 296.35 vs. X̄ = 165.53 [P <0.001]). The risk was also significant for the period (OR = 2.01 [CI 1,42-2,83]) and there was also an association with prison security (P <0.05). A total of 63.4% of the deaths were associated with difficulties in the healthcare process.

DISCUSSION: The excess non-COVID-19 mortality in Uruguay prisons in 2021 was mainly due to restrictions on movement in prison and priority in the care of respiratory patients, which generated difficulties in accessing prison health services, delays in diagnosis and treatment of other pathologies.