Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become a serious problem in U.S. prisons. There appear to be large numbers of infected incarcerated persons in these facilities, and they may be spreading the infection through widespread male homosexual contact. In contrast, the extent of AIDS infection among inmates in Mexican prisons is largely unknown. This paper compares and contrasts issues surrounding AIDS in Mexican and U.S. prisons, with a specific emphasis on the presence of AIDS-related policies. The findings suggest that Mexico may experience a pattern of infection among inmates similar to that in the United States. However, the spread of AIDS through homosexual activity may be reduced in Mexico by the presence of women and conjugal visits.
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