Newly Identified HIV Infections in Correctional Facilities, United States, 2007

Abstract

We used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV Counseling and Testing System data from 2007 to determine the percentage and characteristics of persons newly identified as HIV-positive in US correctional facilities. The newly identified HIV positivity was 0.7%, and 30% of detainees newly identified with HIV were categorized as having low-risk heterosexual contact or no acknowledged risk. Correctional facilities should provide detainees with routine opt-out HIV testing, unless the prevalence of previously undiagnosed HIV infection has been documented to be less than 0.1%.

HIV Testing, HIV Positivity, and Linkage and Referral Services in Correctional Facilities in the United States, 2009–2013

“…The percentage of new positives also was highest among blacks at 0.5%, although lower than the 1.0% found in a previous study on CDC-funded testing in correctional facilities. 4 These findings are consistent with blacks being disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. 9,10 …”

“…For example, a previous study on CDC-funded testing in 2006 found 0.7% new positives. 4 In addition, in comparison to several other CDC-funded site types in 2013, correctional facilities identified a lower percentage of new positives. 24 …”

“…3 Data on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)–funded testing in 2006 indicated 0.9% HIV positivity in correctional facilities and 0.7% newly diagnosed HIV-infected persons (new positives). 4 Men aged 25 to 34 years, blacks, Hispanics/Latinos, persons tested in the South, men who have sex with men, and persons who inject drugs are more likely to be HIV infected or new positives. 4–6 New positives in correctional facilities also have reported riskier behavior, including sex with someone other than their main partner, unsafe vaginal/anal sex, and sex with an at-risk partner (i.e., injected drugs, HIV-infected, or men who have sex with men).…”

“…HIV service provision would not only benefit incarcerated persons but also their sexual and drug-using networks. 4,11 Therefore, a better understanding of HIV testing, HIV positivity, and service delivery in correctional facilities is necessary. This article describes CDC-funded HIV testing and HIV-related services in correctional facilities in 2013.…”

Positive Transitions (POST): Evaluation of an HIV Prevention Intervention for HIV-Positive Persons Releasing from Correctional Facilities

“…Each year, an estimated 14 % of persons with HIV in the United States enter the correctional system [9]. HIV testing on entry results in diagnosing persons with HIV who were not diagnosed by community HIV testing services [10][11][12][13][14][15], and at year-end 2010, 1.5 % of males and 1.9 % of females entering state and federal prisons were reported to be infected with HIV [16]. Medical services in correctional facilities can improve the health status of incarcerated people with HIV by providing treatment for HIV infection [17][18][19], thereby contributing to the prevention of new HIV infections from incarcerated and released persons with HIV.…”