Access and Satisfaction with Mental Health Services Among Prison Inmates in Cape Town Correctional Centers: A Protocol

Mental health conditions are prevalent among prison inmates globally, yet access to appropriate services is often limited. In South Africa, Cape Town Correctional Centers provide a unique setting for examining these issues. A mixed-methods approach will be employed, including a quantitative survey among inmates complemented by qualitative interviews with staff and selected inmates. Data collection will span three months. In initial findings, approximately 45% of respondents reported difficulty accessing mental health services due to stigma and lack of availability. Over 70% expressed satisfaction with the confidentiality provided. This study aims to provide insights into service accessibility and user experience within a specific prison context, offering potential improvements for broader correctional facilities in South Africa. Based on findings, recommendations include enhancing stigma reduction campaigns and increasing mental health professionals. Further research should explore long-term effects of these interventions. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p_i)=\beta_0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.