Epidemiology of COVID-19 in a Nigerian Prison Setting: A Case Study of Kirikiri Prison, Lagos State

Correctional facilities represent high-risk environments for respiratory virus transmission due to overcrowding, shared ventilation, and limited access to infection prevention resources. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant vulnerabilities in Nigeria's correctional system, yet prison-specific epidemiological data remain scarce. This study examines the epidemiology of COVID-19 infection at the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Security Prisons, Lagos State, South West Nigeria, using data from the 2020 to 2022 outbreak period. A retrospective descriptive study will utilise deidentified prison health records, COVID-19 case registers, and line list data obtained from the Nigerian Correctional Service and Lagos State Emergency Operations Centre. Variables analysed will include case counts, attack rates, symptom severity distribution, case fatality rate, and temporal epidemic curves. Data on preventive measures implemented (screening, isolation, vaccination) will be reviewed for timeliness and coverage. Global studies indicate COVID-19 attack rates in prisons are several times higher than in the general population, with inadequate ventilation and density as key drivers. Findings will contribute to a critically underrepresented body of Nigerian prison health literature and provide evidence for the Nigerian Correctional Service to develop comprehensive respiratory disease preparedness protocols aligned with international prison health guidelines. Keywords: COVID-19, prison, Lagos State, epidemiology, correctional facility