title: Educational attainment but not literacy is associated with HIV risk behavior among incarcerated women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the educational factors associated with HIV risk behaviors among incarcerated women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated a cohort of female detainees at The Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute between July and September 2004. Among the 423 women who participated in the study, 55% did not have a high school diploma, 29% had < or = 8th grade reading capacity, 32% had a learning disability, 37% had problem drinking, and 61% (257/423) reported HIV risk behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multiple logistic regression, participants who had completed high school had the lowest likelihood of HIV risk behavior (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.12-1.00). There was no association between participants? literacy level and HIV risk behavior (adjusted OR 2.02, 95% CI 0.83-4.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Correctional education programs to reduce HIV risk behavior should focus on those with low educational attainment irrespective of literacy skills.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. mpo@bu.edu
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Paasche-Orlow
authors.forename: Jennifer G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Megan R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.forename: Moira K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012237:Rhode Island; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking