Incidence and Prevalence of Incarceration in a Longitudinal Cohort of Women at Risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the United States, 2007–2017

Abstract

Background: To estimate the incidence, prevalence, frequency, and duration of incarceration and to identify risk factors for incarceration among women at risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the United States. Methods: During semiannual study visits in a multicenter cohort study, 970 HIV sero-negative participants at risk for HIV were asked about their own incarceration (10/2007-09/2017) and incarceration of sexual partners (10/2013-09/2017). We used descriptive statistics and multivariable log-binomial regression to identify baseline predictors of incident incarceration. Results: Median follow-up time across the 970 participants was 5.5 years (IQR 3.5-9.5). Nearly half (n = 453, 46.7%) of participants were incarcerated during or before the study, and the incarceration rate was 5.5 per 100 person-years. In multivariable models, incident incarceration was associated with prior incarceration (RR 5.20, 95% CI: 3.23-8.41) and noninjection drug use (RR 1.57, 95% CI: 1.10-2.25). Conclusions: Incarceration is common for women at risk for HIV. Prevention interventions that address the complex interplay of drug use, sex exchange, and housing instability for women who have experienced incarceration have the potential to reach an important group of U.S. women at risk of HIV infection.

Conditions that influence coping mechanisms in Latina mothers affected by incarceration: A secondary analysis using the vulnerability framework

“…Women in the community setting involved with the legal system may face additional vulnerabilities, such as a lack of access to healthcare due to financial or other barriers, making it difficult to manage health conditions and address ongoing health concerns (Knittel et al, 2021). These women often have limited resources to access timely and preventive care, which may lead to an exacerbation of symptoms, high rates of emergency room visits, rearrest (Crawford et al, 2022; Lorvick et al, 2022), and ineffective coping (King & Smith, 2023; Knittel et al, 2021), defined as the change in behavior or response to a menacing or adverse experience to enable proper function (Levine & Weinberg, 1978). The limited attention to women's health and safety needs while on probation is often due to the limited time and economic stability these women have.…”

‘You’re setting a lot of people up for failure’: what formerly incarcerated women would tell healthcare decision makers

“…Incarcerated women’s physical and mental health conditions and needs differ significantly from incarcerated men and from women in the general population. For example, incarcerated women have a higher prevalence of childhood trauma (Hayes, 2015 ; Roos et al, 2016 ); sexual victimization (Bucerius et al, 2021 ; DeHart, 2008 ; Karlsson & Zielinski, 2020 ); mental illness, including addiction (Karlsson & Zielinski, 2020 ; Fazel et al, 2017 ); sexually-transmitted diseases (Nijhawan et al, 2010 ); and many chronic physical health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, asthma, arthritis, cervical cancer, and hepatitis (Binswanger et al, 2009 ; Knittel et al, 2021 ).…”