HIV risk behaviour correlates among injecting drug users in Greek prisons

Abstract

Variables related to the inmates' prison career influence HIV risk behaviours within prison. There is a need to assist IDUs in reducing the likelihood of high-risk behaviour by considering factors such as frequency of incarceration, length of time incarcerated and availability of detoxification programmes within prison.

The harm inside: Injection during incarceration among male injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico

“…The level of injection during incarceration documented in this study is relatively high compared to others studies, with a few notable exceptions: a prison-based study of 123 IDUs in Edinburgh that found a 67% prevalence of injection during incarceration (Dye and Isaacs, 1991), a community-based study of 50 IDUs in London that found a 66% prevalence of injection during incarceration (Carvell and Hart, 1990), and a study conducted in 10 Greek prisons that found 60% of 290 IDUs injected while incarcerated (Koulierakis et al, 2000). The high level of injection inside found in our study may be attributed in part to inefficiencies and lack of resources in the Mexican prison system in general, which are described as “fostering high levels of corruption in all its forms and modalities…[including] the introduction, sale and consumption of drugs” (Azaola and Bergman, 2007).…”

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that anywhere from 2% to 74% of prisoners inject drugs during their incarceration (World Health Organization, 2007); studies of IDUs document levels of injection inside from 16–65% (Covell et al, 1993; Kennedy et al, 1991; Koulierakis et al, 2000; Millson et al, 1995; Power et al, 1992; Thaisri et al, 2003; Wood et al, 2005). Lower prevalence estimates have generally been observed among current prisoners (Calzavara et al, 2003; Dufour et al, 1996; Van Haastrecht et al, 1998), who may be more reluctant to report injection inside than those who have already been released.…”

Incidence of Hepatitis C Infection among Prisoners by Routine Laboratory Values during a 20-Year Period

“…Published literature estimates that 60% of inmates with a history of IDU have used injected drugs in prison [37]. Furthermore, other studies report HCV seroconversion of HCV and other infections in prison [22], [38]–[41], mainly among the imprisoned IDU population.…”

Attitudes and Practices Regarding the Use of Methadone in US State and Federal Prisons

“…Although it is clear that high-risk behaviors occur in incarcerated settings 38,[45][46][47] and that reduction in risk behavior can occur with the use of methadone, 39 variability of prison systems and settings in different regions may imply that optimal methadone treatment policies should be tailored to local conditions. Providing MMT for inmates who were treated in community clinics prior to incarceration or initiating MMT in the incarcerated setting may also be an effective strategy to prevent HIV and hepatitis transmission in settings where high-risk behaviors are prevalent [46][47][48] and where effective linkage to community-based treatment exists for the post-release period. Two considerations in deciding the political feasibility and advisability of initiating prison-based MMT are whether high-risk behaviors or intraprison disease transmission is evident 48,49 and whether effective linkage to community MMT is present.…”