Take action: Assess your OPS workspace for health and safety - AMAPCEO

BackgroundGlobally, an estimated 11.5 million people are held in prisons, and in most countries the prison population is increasing [1]. People in prison experience multiple disadvantages such as prior experience of homelessness, substance use, mental ill-health, and higher exposure to trauma and abuse [2,3,4]. They face significantly poorer mental and physical health compared with the general population [5]. Whilst these inequalities are partly due to higher health needs on entering prison, the prison system itself can contribute to poor health due to structural and environmental barriers [6]. These challenges persist for individuals released from prison, who often face difficulties navigating community healthcare and experience interruptions in care [7]. The health inequalities people in prison face extend to oral health, they have a higher prevalence of untreated dental decay and periodontal disease, and the prevalence of dental infections is five times greater than in the general population [8,9,10]. People in prison are also more likely to suffer from substance use disorders, which is associated with poor oral health [11, 12].