HIV risk behaviors, knowledge, and prevention education among offenders under community supervision: a hidden risk group.
Numerous studies have established that incarcerated populations are at substantial risk for HIV infection. In response, many jails and prisons have increased HIV prevention and related services. However, although twice as many offenders are under community supervision as are incarcerated at any given time, HIV prevention needs have been largely ignored among probationers and parolees, and little is known about their HIV risk behaviors or HIV prevention needs. Compared with inmates, probationers and parolees have substantially greater opportunities to engage in HIV risk behaviors. In the present study, we describe HIV risk behaviors, knowledge, and prevention education experiences of probationers and parolees in New York City. We find that probationers and parolees have high rates of unprotected sex, and limited current exposure to effective HIV education and prevention interventions. Probation and parole departments need to improve HIV training for officers and make HIV risk reduction services more available.
Belenko
Steven
S
The Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19106, USA. sbelenko@tresearch.org
Langley
Sandra
S
Crimmins
Susan
S
Chaple
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications