HIV infection among women in prison: an assessment of risk factors using a nonnominal methodology.

Abstract

The relative contributions of needle use practices and sexual behaviors to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody seropositivity among 394 women incarcerated in Quebec were determined by risk factor assessment and serology with a nonnominal methodology. HIV positivity was found in 6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.6, 9.9) of all participants and in 13% (95% CI = 8.6, 18.6) of women with a history of injection drug use. HIV seropositivity among women with a history of injection drug use was predicted by sexual or needle contact with a seropositive person, self-reported genital herpes, and having had a regular sexual partner who injected drugs, but it was not predicted by prostitution. Nonnominal testing is an ethical alternative to mandatory and anonymous unlinked testing among correctional populations.

Correlates of HIV Infection Among Incarcerated Women: Implications for Improving Detection of HIV Infection

“…It therefore appears that knowledge of HIV-seropositive status is associated with reduction in sexual risk taking. This finding is consistent with a study of female prisoners in Québec 38 and in male prisoners in Connecticut 25 who were more likely to use a condom compared with their HIV-seronegative counterparts.…”

Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus infections among inmates of Ontario remand facilities

“…Given the general consistency regarding HIV and HCV prevalence rates between provinces across Canada reported in previous studies, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]12,13,16,17 the findings in our study may indicate high rates of HIV and HCV infections among offender populations in other provinces. Our results may be rationale for further study to gauge the scope of the problem in offender populations across Canada.…”

“…The observed prevalence rates are comparable to those reported in other Canadian studies. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]12,13,16,17 Remand facilities, which act as an entry point into the entire correctional system, represent an important offender population for public health concern regarding transmissible infections. They house an inmate population larger than that in federal penitentiaries and provincial correctional facilities, but one that has a rapid turnover and short stays.…”

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Seroprevalence among Inmates of the Penitentiary Complex of the Region of Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil

“…Similar reports correlating HIV infection among inmates and the IVDUs have been made in other countries (Rotily et al 1994, Calzavara et al 1995. In addition, reports of HIV infection among female inmates are rare (Murphy et al 1992, Hankins et al 1994) but the data are not different from those reported for male inmates, being the IVDUs the main group of risk, specially while in jails.…”