Pre‐incarceration HIV risk behaviours of male and female inmates

Abstract

In most countries, HIV and AIDS rates are higher among inmates than in the general population. As part of a series of studies aimed at examining the plausible links between HIV and incarceration in a State prison system in the United States (US), the present study examined pre-incarceration sexual and injection drug use behaviours of inmates and their demographic correlates. Two-hundred-andsixteen female and 260 male inmates randomly selected from 17 Illinois State prisons completed a structured questionnaire. Findings indicate that the rate of inconsistent condom use with multiple anal and vaginal sexual partners among study participants ranged from 11 to 49%. Fourteen per cent of the women and 25% of the men reported ever injecting drugs, while 13% of the women and 7% of the men had ever shared needles. Demographic correlates of risk behaviours differed between gender and for specific behaviours. The findings indicate that persons entering prison generally exhibit risk behaviours that may increase their chances of acquiring HIV. Comprehensive HIV prevention programmes should be made available to inmates in US prisons and be accessible to them upon release. Studies are needed to examine how individual and structural factors interact to increase HIV and incarceration risk.

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

“…Although men account for three times as many cases of HIV/AIDS than women in the general public, among incarcerated individuals, women have consistently been found to have higher rates of infection than men [4, 5]. This “risk reversal” requires additional attention in order to understand the unique factors that may lead to heightened risk among women who cycle in and out of the United States correctional system.…”

“…Existing studies provide a glimpse of the nature of HIV risk behaviors among male and female prison inmates prior to incarceration, but most have not included jail inmates [5, 6]. Jail inmates represent a particularly useful target for HIV prevention since more jail inmates return to their communities annually (7 million jail inmates versus 650,000 prison inmates) and incarcerated individuals with HIV are most likely to have contracted the disease while in the community rather than while incarcerated [7, 8].…”

Seroconversion Risk Perception Among Jail Populations

“…One of the main findings was that HIV education made a greater difference in women's selfreflection of their behavior than it did with men. These findings, coupled with how women become HIV positive, indicate a need to devise gender-specific programming (Abiona et al, 2009). Merely presenting HIV/AIDS information and recommendations for behavior change is an ineffective teaching strategy, irrespective of gender, age, and criminal background (Hogan, 1994;Magura, Sung-Yeon, Shapiro, & O'Day, 1995;Nyamathi et al, 1993).…”

Gender Differences in HIV Risk Behaviors Among Persons Involved in the U.S. Criminal Justice System and Living with HIV or at Risk for HIV: A “Seek, Test, Treat, and Retain” Harmonization Consortium

“…Due to circumstances related to substance use, poverty, and gender-based violence, women with a CJ history appear to carry a greater risk of acquiring HIV in their lifetime than non-CJ-involved women [11–14]. In addition, unlike the general population where men constitute three times more HIV cases than women, incarcerated women have a higher prevalence of HIV infection than incarcerated men (1.9 vs. 1.4%, respectively) [7, 15, 16]. Although CJ-involved women are more likely than men to experience socioeconomic hardship, which can increase their likelihood of engaging in unsafe sexual and IDU practices [11, 17–19], most HIV risk behavior studies in CJ-involved populations have focused on men [20–26].…”

“…Although CJ-involved women are more likely than men to experience socioeconomic hardship, which can increase their likelihood of engaging in unsafe sexual and IDU practices [11, 17–19], most HIV risk behavior studies in CJ-involved populations have focused on men [20–26]. The few studies among women or assessing gender-based differences in HIV risk behaviors have typically been small and yielded mixed results [16, 27–30]. …”