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Sexual Health and Behaviour of Male Prisoners: The Need for Research

NCJ Number
217401
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 46 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2007 Pages: 43-59
Author(s)
Elaine C. Stewart
Date Published
February 2007
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the problem of HIV/STI infection and spread in male prisons in the United Kingdom and calls for research that will inform prevention initiatives.
Abstract
The main argument is that while the actual rates and potential spread of STIs, including HIV, in male prisons is alarmingly high in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, harm reduction devices such as condoms, lubricants, and sterilized injection equipment is unavailable to male prisoners. The problem is compounded by the lack of adequate health care available to prisoners, lack of availability of drug treatment programming for all prisoners, and overcrowded prison conditions, which contribute to the rapid spread of infections throughout the prison population. Routine STI screenings rarely take place in prisons despite the fact that numerous characteristics of male prisoners indicates they are at high risk. These characteristics include drug dependency, social disadvantage, poor health prior to prison, and younger age. Rape and other sexual abuses are also contributing factors to the spread of HIV/STIs in prison. Once male prisoners are released into the community, they spread the infections they contracted in prison to members of the community. The author calls for increased research on the spread of STIs between prisoners and into the community upon their release in order to inform sexual health knowledge and HIV/STI prevention initiatives. The author describes a research project that has been designed to explore the sexual health and behavior of male ex-prisoners in the United Kingdom. The study will include long- and short-term prisoners as well as men who spent time in prison on remand but were not convicted. Notes, references