The Quality of Environment and Anxiety among the Prisoners at Bau-Bau Prison, South East Sulawesi Salmi, Septiadi Rasyid Masters Program in Public Health, School of Health Sciences Mandala Waluya, Kendari ABSTRACT Background: Mental health has been described as how people, communities, and organizations think and feel about themselves and their experience of mental wellbeing rather than just an absence of mental illness. The mental health of prisoners is a particular concern. Although social and environmental factors are known to affect mental health, little is known about the impact of prison environment. This study aimed to explain the quality of environment and its impact on anxiety among the prisoners at Bau-Bau prison, South East Sulawesi. Subjects and method: A qualitative study with phenomenological approach was conducted at Class IIA prison, in Bau-Bau, South East Sulawesi. The key informants in this study were 12 prisoners having imprisoned for one year or more and officers. The data were collected by in-depth interview. Results: All informants reported that the prison facilities were not feasible and overload. They were feeling anxious and getting distracted from other prisoners in prison, and whether ex-prisoners can be accepted in the community, whether the family can also provide full support. Conclusion: All informants reported that the prison facilities were not feasible and overload. Greater consideration should be given to understanding the wider environmental and other factors that contribute to poor mental health in prisons. This information can be used to inform prison policy makers and managers, and the primary care trusts who are beginning to work in partnership with prisons to improve the mental health of prisoners. Keywords: environmental quality, anxiety, prisoners, prisoners Correspondence: Salmi. Masters Program in Public Health, School of Health Sciences Mandala Waluya, Jl. A.H. Nasution No. G 37, Kendari, South East Sulawesi. Email: salmilahumoko@gmail.com DOI: https://doi.org/10.26911/theicph.2019.04.27 ￩ ￫ x × Share this : View PDF
