Educational attainment but not literacy is associated with HIV risk behavior among incarcerated women.
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.
Paasche-Orlow
Michael K
MK
Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. mpo@bu.edu
Clarke
Jennifer G
JG
Hebert
Megan R
MR
Ray
Moira K
MK
Stein
Michael D
MD
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