Background: Considering the relevance of discussing AIDS in diferents contexts and groups with lower social support, the objetive of this study was, summarize the scientific production developed over the past decade related to HIV/AIDS in the prison context.Method: the sample consisted of 33 scientific articles linked to the portal journals of Capes, using the descriptors "HIV" and "prisoners", collected in March 2013. In the analysis stage of the articles, we used one specific instrument containing data, such as: article title, year of publication, country in which the research was developed and method. the interpretation of results occurred by the similarity of sub-themes, summarized and compared and presented in the form of frame.Results: there was a higher production between 2010 and 2012, predominantly work in English and quantitative approach. there were settled four main themes: prevalence of HIV/AIDS and co-morbidities; vulnerability/risk to HIV/AIDS; interventions against HIV/AIDS; antiretroviral therapy in prisons: encouraging former prisioners. Conclusion:In general, the complex problem of AIDS is still treated under a look turned to understanding risk behaviors and ways of transmission. the focus remains on the subject actor of acts that exposes to risk without, either, unfold to the social, political and economic in which they develop different factors of vulnerability.