NCJ Number
149313
Date Published
1994
Length
59 pages
Annotation
Recent research on the prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS in Scottish prisons indicates that more prisoners injected drugs prior to imprisonment than during imprisonment, that most males and females had regular vaginal intercourse without condoms, and that both inmates and prison staff were knowledgeable of AIDS transmission and prevention.
Abstract
More prisoners shared drug-injecting equipment prior to imprisonment than during imprisonment. Comparing prisoners with and without a history of intravenous drug use (IDU), few differences were observed in their sexual behavior prior to imprisonment and expected sexual behavior after release. Both groups reported a reluctance to use condoms. Inmates with a history of IDU were more likely to have had an IDU sexual partner than non-IDU inmates. Prior to imprisonment, IDU inmates regarded themselves as being at greater risk of HIV infection than non-IDU inmates. Of male and female IDU inmates who were still injecting drugs at the time of imprisonment, proportionately fewer female than male IDU inmates injected while in prison. Inmates and prison staff were knowledgeable of high risk modes of AIDS transmission and prevention. Prison staff, however, reported gaps in knowledge related to HIV testing and results and the efficacy of various methods for sterilizing drug-injecting equipment. Prison staff believed there was a high risk of AIDS transmission in the prison setting due to the potential for inmate confrontation and violence. In addition, prison staff felt they were at higher risk of HIV transmission in prison than in the outside community. Educational initiatives for both inmates and prison staff to increase AIDS knowledge are discussed. 22 references and 3 figures