A review of HIV in prisons in Nepal.
BACKGROUND
HIV in prisons is a serious public health concern. People in prison are at risk of contracting HIV through injecting drug use, unprotected sex and tattooing. However, most countries have largely neglected HIV prevention and care in prisons.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to review HIV prevention and care in Nepal's prisons


METHODS
This was carried out by Systematic review of published and grey literature.


RESULTS
Nepal's National HIV Strategy acknowledges the importance of prisons in broader HIV prevention efforts. However, prison conditions are poor and there is no accurate information regarding HIV prevalence or risk behaviours among prisoners. HIV prevention interventions have largely been limited to ad hoc training workshops. Antiretroviral treatment is not available to HIV infected prisoners.


CONCLUSIONS
There is recognition in Government policy documents that prisons must be involved in efforts to stem the HIV epidemic. However, HIV prevention and care remains largely non-existent in Nepal's prisons. Efforts to obtain external funding to initiate and maintain programs such as drug dependency treatment and condom distribution are required. Attention could also be given to introducing alternatives to incarceration for less serious offenders and drug dependent offenders.
Dolan
K
K
Program of International Research and Training, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Larney
S
S
D003906:Developing Countries; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011330:Prisons; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D021841:Safe Sex; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control