Prisoners' experience of sanitary conditions in penitentiaries in the Kinshasa city, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of sanitary conditions in Kinshasa's penitentiary centers, highlighting the challenges faced by
prisoners on a daily basis. Focusing on inmates' experiences, the study reveals that they endure extremely degraded living
conditions, marked by an unhealthy environment, inadequate nutrition, and lack of appropriate medical care. The aim of this
research is to understand and document these conditions of detention, with a view to raising the authorities' awareness of the
need for urgent reform of the prison system. It is being carried out using a phenomenological qualitative approach, based on
interviews with prisoners. This methodology makes it possible to gather direct, personal testimonies, offering an in-depth view
of the suffering experienced. The data collected reveals particularly precarious hygiene conditions, with prisons often unhea lthy
and overcrowded, generating unbearable heat. In addition, prisoners are deprived of adequate medical care, leading to untreated
illness and deteriorating health. Prisoners also suffer institutional abuse and mistreatment, amplifying the suffering and injustice
they endure. Deplorable sanitary conditions, lack of health care and lack of respect for human rights make these prisons a
veritable hell for inmates. This study underlines the urgent need for structural reforms to guarantee detention conditions that
respect the fundamental rights of prisoners in Kinshasa.