Short-term Impact of an HIV Risk Reduction Intervention for Soon-to-be Released Inmates in Georgia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an intervention seeking to reduce risk for HIV/AIDS infection among a sample of soon-to-be-released adult male inmates. This analysis is based on a random sample of 116 adult male prisoners recruited and interviewed prior to their participation in an HIV/AIDS and recidivism risk reduction intervention and again three months after they were reintegrated into the community. The intervention program was designed to reduce risky sexual behaviors and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-related behaviors. It had a randomized, Latin-square design to evaluate adult male offenders across four conditions. Findings indicate that the intervention for the inmate population was effective in reducing sexual self-expectation and substance use and increasing condom use self-efficacy over a three-month period.

Results of a Pilot Study of Pre-release STD Testing and Inmates’ Risk Behaviors in an Ohio Prison

“…20,21 Routine intake testing to identify cases of trichomoniasis and hepatitis C thus might facilitate earlier treatment and control of secondary infections with associated cost savings. 11 However, savings might be offset by higher treatment costs related to identifying additional cases of these diseases.…”

“…Research suggests that pre-release education and treatment interventions may be particularly beneficial because they take place at a time when inmates are thinking about reentry into the community and how their actions may affect others. 11 Because of the nature of incarceration, the inmate population represents an important and unique audience for STD prevention interventions.…”

Examining the Temporal Relationship Between Criminal Justice Involvement and Sexual Risk Behaviors among Drug-Involved Men

“…42,47,48 This study's findings underscore the importance of HIV/STI prevention research among individuals with low-intensity criminal justice involvement. While there is limited HIV prevention research being conducted in prison settings, 4,49 HIV/STI prevention models targeting short-term jail inmates are virtually nonexistent. Providing services to jail inmates is difficult given their rapid cycle of arrest and release.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] HIV/STI prevalence in criminal justice populations is higher than in the general population for nearly every demographic grouping of men, and many studies document increased levels of sexual risk behaviors associated with criminal justice involvement. [5][6][7] A recent review summarized that incarcerated populations (compared to the general population) initiate sex at an earlier age, have more sexual partners, and use STI prevention methods more inconsistently.…”

From Corrections to Communities as an HIV Priority

“…[71][72][73][74][75] Recent randomized controlled interventions with populations re-entering the community are an advance over much of the previous literature and demonstrate that it is possible to have a positive impact on risk behavior in this population. 76,77 These programs are reflections of concern not just about individual barriers to community reintegration, but also realization that concern about HIV and other infectious diseases in the correctional setting cannot be limited to consideration of risk of transmission between inmates within jail or prison. The average length of sentence being a few years means that inmates, if untreated, can carry infection to others when they return to the communities from which they came.…”