HIV infection is a major public health problem in prisons and jails. In several correctional systems, AIDS has become the leading cause of death. Seroprevalence estimates for different systems in the United States and Europe range form 0 percent to 18 percent among inmates entering prison, indicating geographic variation. Reported HIV rates are higher among females compared to males, among inmates over 25 years, and among racial/ethnic minorities. The major established risk behavior for HIV infection among prison inmates is a history of pre-incarceration intravenous drug use. The prison and jail setting provides an opportunity to educate, counsel, test, and treat individuals at risk for HIV infection who otherwise might have a very limited access to care. Services to this population must be voluntary and confidential.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
New York State Commission of Corrections.1986Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: A Demographic Profile Of New York State; Mortalities 1982 - 1985, Albany, NY .
2.
Anda, R.F., S.B. Perlmon, D.J. D'Allessio, J.P. Davis, and J.N. Dodson.1985Hepatitis B in Wisconsin male prisoners: Considerations for serologic screening and vaccination. American Journal Of Public Health, 75: 1182-1185.
3.
Angarano, G., G. Pastore, L. Monno, et al. 1986Rapid spread of HIV-III antibody in drug abusers in the West of Scotland: The Edinburgh connection. Lancet , 1: 446-7.
4.
Barton, W.I.1980Drug histories and criminality: Survey of inmates of state correctional facilities, January 1974International Journal Of Addiction, 15: 233-258.
5.
Brewer, T.F., D. Vlahov, E. Taylor, D. Hall, A. Muñoz, and B.F. Polk.1988Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus infection in a statewide prison system. AIDS, 2: 363-367.
6.
Brewer, T.F., D. Vlahov, A. Muñoz, J. Ullrich, J. Narkunas, and K.G. Castro.1990Gender and regional differences in HIV-1 antibody among entrants ut U.S. Correctional facilities. Sixth International Conference on AIDS, San Francisco.
7.
Brown, L.S., R. Battjes, B.J. Primm, et al. 1988Trends of HIV infection among intravenous drug users. Abstract presented at the fourth international Conference on AIDS, Stockholm, June 12-16, 1988: 394.
8.
Bureau of Communicable Disease Control.1989AIDS Surveillance monthly update. Albany, New York: New York State Department of Health.
9.
Burke, D.S., J.F. Brundage, J.R. Herbold, et al. 1987Human immunodeficiency virus infections among civilian applicants to United States military service, October, 1985 to March 1986. New England Journal Of Medicine, 317: 131-136.
10.
Celentano, D.D., D. Vlahov, A.S. Menon, and B.F. Polk.1991HIV knowledge and attitudes among intravenous drug users comparisons to the U.S. population and by drug use behaviors. Journal Of Drug Issues, 21: 647-61.
11.
Celentano, D.D., T.F. Brewer, J. Sonnega, and D. Vlahov.1990Maryland inmates knowledge of HIV-1 transmission and prevention : A comparison with the U.S. general population. Journal Of Prison And Jail Health, 9: 45-54.
12.
Centers for Disease Control1987Human immunodeficiency virus infection in the Untied States: A review of current knowledge. Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report, 36 (Suppl. S-6).
13.
Centers for Disease Control1989AIDS and human immunodeficiency virus infection in the United States, 1988 update, Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report, 38 (Suppl. S-4).
14.
Centers for Disease Control1989Florida: AIDS primary cause of death in prison. Center For Disease Control Weekly. November 6.
15.
Davis, J.P., J.M. Vergemont, H.F. Frisby, et al. 1989HIV seroprevalence and the efficacy of voluntary HIV testing among male prison inmates in Wisconsin [abstract]Fifth International Conference on AIDS. Montreal , Canada, June 4-9.
16.
Decker, M.D., W.K. Vaugh, J.S. Brodie, R.H. Hutcheson, and W. Shaffner.1984Seroprevalence of hepatitis B in Tennessee prisoners. Journal Of Infectious Disease, 150: 450-459.
17.
Des Jarlais, D.C., S.R. Friedman, D.M. Novick, et al. 1989HIV-1 infection among intravenous drug users in Manhattan, New York CIty, from 1977 through 1987. Journal Of The American Medical Association261: 1008-1012.
18.
Des Jarlais, D.C., S.R. Friedman, M. Marmor, et al. 1987Development of AIDS, HIV seroconversion and potential cofactors for T4 cell loss in a cohort of intravenous drug users . AIDS, 1: 105-111.
19.
Hammett, T.M.1990Update 1989: AIDS In Correctional Facilities. Washington, D.C.National Institute of Justice
20.
Harding, T.W.1987AIDS in prison. Lancet, 2: 1260-1263.
21.
Horsburgh, C.R., J.Q. Jarvis, T. McArthur, T. Ignacia, and P. Stock.1990Seroconversion to human immunodeficiency virus in prison inmates. American Journal Of Public Health , 80: 209-210.
22.
Hull, H.F., L.H. Lyons, J.M. Mann, S.C. Hadler, R. Steece, and M.R. Skeels.1985Incidence of hepatitis B in the penitentiary of New Mexico. American Journal Of Public Health, 75: 1213-1214.
23.
Kelly, P.W., R.R. Redfield, and D.L. Ward.1986Prevalence and incidence of HTLV-III infection i a prison. Journal Of The American Medical Association , 256: 2198-2199.
24.
Moss, A.R., R. Chaisson, D. Osmond, et al. 1988Control of HIV infection in intravenous drug users in San Francisco. Abstract presented at the Fourth International Conference on AIDS, Stockholm June 12-16: 238.
25.
Nacci, P.L. and T.R. Kane.1982Sex And Sexual Aggression In Prisons: Progress Reports. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice.
26.
Novick, P.L., and T.R. Kane.1982Abstract of clinical research findings: Therapeutic and historical aspects in problems of drug dependence. In Harri L , ed. Proceedings of the 46th annual scientific meeting committee on problems of drug dependence. NIDA Research Monograph (Series No. 67). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office: 318-20.
27.
Peterson, L.R., M. Carter, R. D'Aquila, et al. 1988HIV serorevalence in Connecticut IV drug abusers: A prototype seroprevalence monitoring system for the U.SAbstract presented at the Fourth International Conference on AIDS, Stockholm, June 12-16: 195.
28.
Prendergast, T.J., R. Maxwell, J.R. Greenwood, et al. 1989Incidence and prevalence of HIV infection during 44 months of testing prostitutes/IVDU's in the women's jail, Orange County, California [abstract]. Fifth International Conference on AIDS. Montreal, Canada, June 4-9: 82.
29.
Public Health Service, Task Force on Anti-Pneumocystic Prophylaxis1989Guidelines for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia for persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report, 38: S-5 (1-9).
30.
Robertson, J.R., A.B.V. Backnal, P.D. Welsby, et al. 1986Epidemic of AIDS related virus (HTLV-III/LAV) infection among intravenous drug users. British Medical Journal292: 527-529.
31.
Salive, M.E., G.S. Smith, T.F. Brewer.1990Death in prison: Changing mortality patterns among male prisoners in Maryland. American Journal Of Public Health, 80: 1479-80.
32.
Salive, M.E., D. Vlahov, and T.F. Brewer.1990Co-infection with tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in male prison inmates. Public Health Report, 105: 307-310.
33.
Schoenbaum, E.E., D. Hartel, P.A. Selwyn, et al. 1989Lack of association of T-cell subsets with continuing intravenous drug use and high risk heterosexual sex, independent of HIV infection and diseases. Fifth International Conference on AIDS, Montreal, Quebec.
34.
Truman, B.I., D. Morse, J. Mikl, S. Lehman, A. Forte, R. Broaddus, and R. Stevens.1988HIV seroprevalence and risk factors among prison inmates entering New York State Prisons. Fourth International Conference on AIDS, Sockholm, Sweden: 311.
35.
Vlahov, D., T.F. Brewer, K.G. Castro, et al. 1991Prevalence of antibody to HIV among entrants to U.S. correctional facilities. Journal Of The American Medical Association, 265: 1129-32.
36.
Vlahov, D., A. Muñoz, D. Hall, E. Taylor, and B.F. Polk.1990Seasonal and annual variation of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) among male inmates entering Maryland prisons: Update, AIDS4: 345-350.
37.
Vlahov, D., F. Brewer, A. Muñoz, D. Hall, E. Taylor, and B.F. Polk.1989Temporal trends of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection among inmates entering a statewide prison system 1985-1987. Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome2: 283-290.
38.
Vlahov, D., and B.F. Polk.1988Intravenous drug use and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection in prison. AIDS Public Policy Journal, 32: 42-46.
39.
Volberding, P.A., S.W. Lagakos, M.A. Koch, C. Pettinelli, M.W. Meyers, P.A. Booth and H.H. Balfour.1990Zidovudine in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infection : A controlled trial in persons with fewer than 500 CD4-positive cells per cubic millimeter. New England Journal Of Medicine , 322: 941-9.
40.
Zimmerman, C., R. Martin, D. Vlahov1991AIDS knowledge and risk perceptions among Pennsylvania Prisoners. Journal Of Criminal Justice, 19: 239-56.
