[HIV and related infections in Italian penal institutions: epidemiological and health organization note].
HIV and other infections represent an important health problem in Italian jails. In particular, HIV prevalence is high, due to the characteristics of the prison population, which is constituted by a large proportion of injecting drug users and foreigners. In addition, data from other countries suggest that risky behaviour are not uncommon during imprisonment, and transmission of HIV and other infection in this setting may also occur. Data from surveys conducted by the Penitentiary Authority in Italian jails show a decline of HIV seroprevalence from 9.7% in 1990 to 2.6% in 2001. However, these data are largely incomplete and do not account for possible biases due to self-selection of inmates toward HIV serological testing or to variations in the access to screening activities. More accurate data, possibly obtained through anonymous unlinked surveys, are needed in order to better plan health services and preventive measures.
Istituto di Malattie Infettive e Parassitarie, Università degli Studi, Via Manno 54, 07100 Sassari. babuder@uniss.it
Sergio
S
Babudieri
Giulio
G
Starnini
Bruna
B
Brunetti
Sergio
S
Carbonara
Gian Piero
GP
D'Offizi
Roberto
R
Monarca
Giovanni
G
Mazzarello
Stefano
S
Novati
Aldo
A
Casti
Grazia
G
Florenzano
Giulio
G
Quercia
Enzo
E
Iovinella
Celestino
C
Sardu
Anacleto
A
Romano
Marinella
M
Dierna
Serafino
S
Vullo
Antonio
A
Pintus
Ivana
I
Maida
Luca
L
Dori
Sebastiano
S
Ardita
Maria Stella
MS
Mura
Massimo
M
Andreoni
Giovanni
G
Rezza
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence / Q000639:trends; D006306:Health Surveys; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology