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Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Among Inpatient Pretrial Detainees

NCJ Number
160303
Journal
Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (1995) Pages: 285-288
Author(s)
D Schwartz-Watts; L D Montgomery; D W Morgan
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This retrospective study used medical records to examine the seroprevalence of HIV among 311 psychiatric inpatients in a forensic pretrial setting in South Carolina.
Abstract
HIV antibody test results were obtained for 74 percent of patients between the ages of 18 and 55 years. The incidence of HIV seropositivity among this sample was 5.5 percent, more than 40 times the incidence for the general population in the State. Intravenous drug use was reported by one-third of the seropositive males. More than 40 percent of the seropositive subjects in this sample were unaware of their serostatus upon admission to the pretrial facility. The findings highlight the importance of early intervention for purposes of treatment and education. The results suggest that mentally ill criminal offenders are at high risk of acquiring HIV infection and should be tested upon intake. 1 table, 1 appendix, and 6 references

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