A situation assessment of multi-stakeholder experiences, prison system preparedness and health, penal and judicial measures taken to mitigate COVID-19 in Malawian and Zimbabwean prisons
| dc.contributor.author | Muula, Adamson | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2021-11-26T11:44:28Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2021-11-26T11:44:28Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-05-12 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Study type: This is a qualitative study using Empirical Phenomenological Psychological (EPP) five-step quality framework. Problem being studied: Prisons in the sub-Saharan region have been neglected in State COVID-19 responses and state budgeting, with efforts by government limited to prison lockdowns, and early release schemes, presidential pardoning and amnesties in an effort to reduce congestion. There are reports of insufficient disease mitigation measures for both staff (testing capacity, personal protective equipment, sanitation, disinfection) and prisoners alike, leading to prison riots and staff strike actions demanding hazard pay. Tackling disease in prisons is a human rights and public health imperative, given the bridge of transmission between prison and community via visitors, legal representatives, staff and prisoners. Broad objective The broad objective of the study is to assess the COVID-19 response and level of human rights assurance of prisoners and staff. Research Objectives: Specific objectives The specific objectives of the study are to: 1. Map and describe international human, health, occupational and gender rights standards applicable to those living and working in prisons, and WHO/UNODC/UNAIDS/OHCHR technical guidance on minimum standards of care and working conditions. 2. Conduct a legal realist analysis of domestic prison policies relating to disease response preparedness, and health, penal and judicial measures taken by the government to mitigate contagion, especially COVID-19; and the extent to which rights of prisoners and staff are upheld. 3. Explore multi-stakeholder perspectives of the COVID-19 response Methodogy: The EPP approach to collecting and analysing data focus on the subjective experience, in this sense the lived experience of COVID-19 in the prison, and adheres to Husserl’s principle of active efforts to ‘bracket out’ the researchers’ theoretical preunderstanding in the first steps of a text analysis. Data will be collected from Chichiri central prison in Blantyre, Malawi. Focus group discussions will be conducted with consenting male and female prisoners and prison warders. Key informant Interviews will be conducted with prison officers, prison medical officer, legal personnel and other key stakeholders who work closely with prisons. All interviews will be recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated into English where required for analysis. In order to ensure scientific rigour, the EPP five-step quality framework will be used to analyse qualitative and observational data. Expected results and benefits: We expect to find gaps in adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and adherence to standard human rights protocols within the prison setting.These results will help advocate for adherence to health and human rights standards to prevent populations in these settings from getting infected with COVID-19. Dissemination of findings: The findings will be disseminated to study respondents and key stakeholders through meetings/workshop. Again we intend to share the study findings with COMREC and participants at scientific conferences either in Malawi or internationally. The results will also be published in a peer reviewed journal. | en_US |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://rscarchive.kuhes.ac.mw/handle/20.500.12988/556 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences | en_US |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Ethics Protocol;P.03/21/3281 | |
| dc.title | A situation assessment of multi-stakeholder experiences, prison system preparedness and health, penal and judicial measures taken to mitigate COVID-19 in Malawian and Zimbabwean prisons | en_US |
| dc.type | Plan or blueprint | en_US |