BACKGROUND: Although non-suicidal self-injury (nssi) is a serious health concern among prisoners worldwide, no empirical data on this issue are currently available specifically for Belgium.<br/> AIM: To investigate the prevalence rates of, and risk factors for, nssi in Flemish prisons.<br/> METHOD: A cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of 1326 prisoners (1203 men and 123 women), randomly selected from 15 Flemish prisons.<br/> RESULTS: Overall, 17.3% of prisoners self-reported a lifetime history of nssi. One in 12 prisoners (8.6%) engaged in nssi whilst incarcerated; this was significantly associated with both static (younger age, sentenced status, and violent offending) and dynamic (psychiatric disorders, distress, and coping strategies) risk factors.<br/> CONCLUSION: The extent of nssi among prisoners in Flanders is considerable. The identified risk factors present important targets for prevention and intervention in a custodial setting.
Adult Belgium