Sexually transmitted infection and blood-borne virus screening in juvenile correctional facilities: A review of the literature and recommendations for Australian centres

The health of adolescents in detention: a global scoping review

“…Although a low prevalence of HBV and HCV among detained adolescents indicates a need for evidencebased prevention strategies, any nonzero prevalence indicates that detention facilities are important sites for diagnosis and treatment. Similarly, two reviews included in our Scoping Review 118,125 do cumented that HIV infection was rare among detained adolescents in highincome countries, despite early sexual debut and unsafe sex being commonly reported. This finding highlights important opportunities for education and HIV prevention during detention for adolescents at increased risk of these outcomes.…”

“…66 publications, including 12 reviews, 1,2,15,[118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126] reported on bloodborne viruses and STIs in detained adolescents (table 5). 41 (76%) of the 54 original studies were done in the USA, with the remainder from Australia (n=3), Canada (n=2), Iran (n=2), Brazil (n=1), Bulgaria (n=1), Pakistan (n=1), Tanzania (n=1), Russian (n=1), and six nations in the eastern Caribbean (n=1).…”

“…Evidence on the prevalence of syphilis among detained adolescents was sparse, as syphilis is markedly less prevalent than chlamydia, and gonorrhoea and is less often the target of routine screening. 124,125 We identified five studies that reported syphilis prevalence, seven studies on hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen prevalence, 12 studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV) anti body prevalence, and 15 on HIV prevalence.…”

Sexually transmitted diseases and incarceration

“…Notably, this priority list based on San Francisco data is consistent with the relative prevalence shown in Table 1 that are based on broader national data. A literature review by Templeton [20] concluded that STD screening should be offered to all confined juveniles in Australia.…”

Correctional Facilities as Partners in Reducing HIV Disparities

“…Similarly, HIV, STD, and hepatitis C infection rates are higher than among other non-incarcerated youth. 16,17 Finally, more than two-thirds of incarcerated youth have one or more psychiatric disorders. 18 Rates of mild, moderate, and severe mental illness, from anxiety to posttraumatic stress disorders and psychosis, are generally higher among incarcerated compared with non-incarcerated youth.…”