title: Survey of risk behaviour and HIV prevalence in an English prison.
abstract: An anonymous, voluntary, linked cohort study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of HIV infection and identify risk factors for the spread of infection in an English prison. Three hundred and seventy-eight (68%) of the inmates participated. The HIV point prevalence was 0.26%. Injecting drug use (IDU) was the most significant HIV risk factor within 20% admitting IDU at any time, of whom 58% injected whilst in prison. Of those injecting in prison 73% shared needles. Two inmates admitted having sex with a male partner in prison. This study demonstrates that the potential exists in this setting for an outbreak of blood-borne virus infection; hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection. Injecting drug use and needle sharing represent the greatest risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary Medicine, The Radcliffe Infirmary NHS Trust, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sherrard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires