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Prevalence of HIV among inmates in four states of north India: findings from the 16th round of HIV sentinel surveillance.

Authors :
Jha, Shreya
Kant, Shashi
Thakur, Nishakar
Kumar, Pradeep
Rai, Sanjay
Haldar, Partha
Kardam, Priyanka
Misra, Puneet
Goswami, Kiran
Rajan, Shobini
Source :
International Journal of Prisoner Health. 2023, Vol. 19 Issue 4, p699-708. 10p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Purpose: Prisoners are at a higher risk of HIV infection compared to the general population. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of HIV and related risk behaviours among inmates of the Central Prisons in four states of North India. Design/methodology/approach: The HIV sentinel surveillance was conducted in seven Central Prisons in four states of North India from February to April 2019. Four hundred inmates were included from each prison. The interviews were conducted at the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre located within the prison premises. The Ethics Committee of the National AIDS Control Organization, New Delhi, granted ethical approval before the start of the surveillance. Findings: Overall, 2,721 inmates were enrolled in this study. The mean (SD) age was 38.9 (13.9) years. One-third of prison inmates had comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The proportion of convict (54%) and undertrial (46%) inmates was almost equal. The overall prevalence of HIV infection among inmates was 0.96% (95% CI 0.65–1.40). The odds of being HIV positive were significantly higher in never married inmates, undertrials, inmates who were in the prison for more than three months to one year, inmates incarcerated for multiple times, inmates with history of injecting drug use and inmates with history of intercourse with a commercial sex worker. Originality/value: The findings from the very first HIV sentinel surveillance in central prisons in North India have been presented in this paper. This has huge implications for future policy decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
17449200
Volume :
19
Issue :
4
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
International Journal of Prisoner Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
173822763
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-03-2022-0021