HIV Risk Behaviors of Male and Female Jail Inmates Prior to Incarceration and One Year Post-Release

Abstract

Individuals cycling in and out of the criminal justice system are at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Most infections are contracted in the community, not during incarceration, but little is known about the profile of risk behaviors responsible for this elevated infection rate. This study investigated pre-incarceration and post-release HIV risk behaviors in a longitudinal study of 542 male and female inmates in a Northern Virginia jail. Although there was a significant decrease in risky behavior from pre-incarceration to post-incarceration, participants reported high levels of unprotected sexual activity and risky IV drug behaviors at both time points, emphasizing the need for prevention programming among this at-risk population. Gender differences in participants’ pre-incarceration and post-release HIV risk behaviors suggest the need for gender-specific interventions to reduce overall HIV risk. Identifying specific HIV risk behaviors of jail inmates is vital to improve treatment and intervention efforts inside and outside of correctional settings.

Fatores associados à prevalência do vírus da imunodeficiência humana em população privada de liberdade

“…The result of low investment in care and little political will to implement efforts to try to solve existing problems is clear. Health care in prisons is solely the responsibility of prison administration, and is disconnected from the recommendations laid down in the protocols of public health programs (11)(12)(13)(14) . Although international organizations have shown a decline in the rate of HIV prevalence among prisoners, reaching an average of 3.0% a year (15) , official data indicate that it is still higher than in the general population, demonstrating that it is a public health problem that is difficult to tackle.…”

“…The determinant risk factors that affect the health needs of prison populations include: overpopulation; unsafe sexual practices, especially those involving violence; use of drugs; and sharing sharp objects (12)(13)(14) . Regarding drug use, more than half of those infected with HIV reported using or having used drugs at some point in their lives.…”

The Brief Self-Control Scale Predicts Jail Inmates’ Recidivism, Substance Dependence, and Post-Release Adjustment

“…In this model, P represents the cumulative likelihood that a given person becomes infected after engaging in multiple, specific acts of unprotected intercourse and/or sharing needles and drug paraphernalia over a given time period. For more information about the Bernoulli model in this sample, see Adams, Kendall, Smith, Quigley, Stuewig, & Tangney (in press).…”

HIV-Related Sexual Risk among African American Men Preceding Incarceration: Associations with Support from Significant Others, Family, and Friends

“…The stress associated with re-entry may amplify risk of HIV through sexual risk-taking or drug use that existed prior to incarceration [2,4,5]. Improved understanding of factors that may protect individuals involved in the criminal justice system against engaging in HIV risk behaviors in their community remains an important public health priority [2,6] The social support networks that inmates leave behind and to which they return may promote well-being and reduce sexual behaviors that drive HIV risk. According to the Stress-Buffering Effect of Social Ties and Health Model, social support protects health in the face of stressful life events by enabling positive coping and providing material/ economic support; these factors in turn promote positive health decision-making [7].…”