The current study examined self-reported history of STI and substance use risk behaviors in a sample of South African prison inmates. Participants were 344 inmates from four prisons in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Significance tests were conducted using univariate logistic regressions to examine the independent associations of Lifetime occurrence of a Sexual Transmitted Infection and dichotomized correlates of substance use risk behavior. Findings showed that inmates in Mpumalanga (OR 1.43; 95% CI 0.90, 2.23) had a greater risk for STIs than inmates in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) (OR 1.11; 95% CI 0.88, 1.37). Moreover, past experience using injection drugs (OR 2.34; 95% CI 0.62, 8.88), experience of needle sharing (OR 2.13; 95% CI 0.55, 8.27), and drug/alcohol use leading to problems at school or work were the strongest indicators for inmates having a lifetime STI.
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