Challenges to providing a support group for HIV-positive prisoners in South Africa

Peer health promotion in prisons: a systematic review

“…Such barriers include disruptions due to staff shortages; participants not attending, and room scarcity. Also issues of confidentiality, particularly in the area of HIV, where many may wish not to disclose their status, have been highlighted as additional barriers (Rohleder, 2008). Such descriptive findings could provide a focus for future empirical research.…”

Socio-Economic Characteristics of HIV in a South African Prison

“…Rohleder (2008) noted the nature of the high risk environment for the transmission of HIV/AIDS in South African prisons, citing the prevalence of tattooing, male rape associated with gang activities in prisons, the commodification of sex, where 'a poorer prisoner with no money may sell himself as a passive sex partner of a richer, more powerful prisoner', alongside consensual, unprotected sex as factors contributing to the high risk environment ('as condoms have not been readily available in prison, the occurrence of unprotected sex is high' (Rohleder, 2008, 281). Yet the National Strategic Plan 2007-2011 expressly stated that 'little is known about the extent of HIV in South African correctional services, nor the relationship between known risk factors and HIV acquisition in South Africa' (Department of Health, 2007).…”

“…Recent studies have included an examination of challenges to providing support groups for HIV-positive prisoners (Rohleder, 2008), and an analysis of prisoners' and health care workers' perceptions of health care services (Sifunda, et al 2006) as well as a general recognition of the gravity of the problem (Schalkwyk, 2005). Rohleder (2008) noted the nature of the high risk environment for the transmission of HIV/AIDS in South African prisons, citing the prevalence of tattooing, male rape associated with gang activities in prisons, the commodification of sex, where 'a poorer prisoner with no money may sell himself as a passive sex partner of a richer, more powerful prisoner', alongside consensual, unprotected sex as factors contributing to the high risk environment ('as condoms have not been readily available in prison, the occurrence of unprotected sex is high' (Rohleder, 2008, 281).…”