Knowledge, attitudes and practices that facilitate the transmission of HIV among prison inmates : a review

Abstract

The need for an effective response to HIV and behavioural patterns in prisons is a significant national and international concern. In different countries of the world, the rate of HIV infection among prison inmates is high. In some countries, reports showed that the rate of HIV infection in prisons is higher than in the general population. The epidemic is related to risk factors such as drug use, unsafe injection practices, and homosexual relationships, tattooing and sharing of needles. The failure to provide access to adequate prevention, protection, information and care is a violation of prisoners’ right to health as established by international law. As it is known today, the spread of HIV can only be controlled by effective programs designed to educate people about the causes of the infection, its mode of transmission as well as the attitude and behaviour that puts them at risk of becoming infected with HIV and how to avoid exposure to HIV. In this paper we review prisoner’s knowledge about HIV/AIDS, attitudes of the prison inmates and practices that constitute risk of transmitting HIV among prison inmates, the link between the society and prison in the transmission of HIV and offer recommendations to tackle the problems.