Abstract:
Background: Prisons and detention centers in Ethiopia lack adequate hand washing, personal
protective equipment, and quarantine areas. As a result, they are vulnerable to the expansion of
the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its high risk for the COVID-19 pandemic, no study has been
made to assess the preparedness and readiness in prison institutions and detention centers.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design mixed with a qualitative approach was conducted
from May 1 to June 30, 2020. A total of four prison institutions and 17 detention centers
were included in the study. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the
institutions. The data were entered into the EpiData and exported to SPSS Windows version
22 for data management and analysis. Descriptive statistics was employed for the quantita
tive section and content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.
Results: Five out of 17 detention centers and three out of four prison facilities did not fulfill
the standards related to human rights. Almost all detention centers and prison facilities did
not implement recommended activities of risk assessment and management of COVID-19. In
addition, none of the prison facilities and detention centers had quick access to laboratory
tests for suspected cases. Neither the prison facilities nor the detention centers had
a contingency plan for the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, all staff working in prison
facilities and detention centers mentioned that training regarding COVID-19 had not yet
been given. However, in all prisons and detention centers, preventive measures such as
physical distancing, utilization of hand washing facilities, wearing masks, and keeping
respiratory hygiene were not practiced.
