title: Risk behaviour of prison inmates in relation to HIV/STI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persons serving a prison sentence are identified as a population exposed to a higher risk of HIV/STIs due to a high incidence of risk behaviour, especially intravenous drug misuse. To show results of research on prevalence of HIV/STIs in relation to spread of risk behaviour and other risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study on a sample of 620 respondents in 10 prisons. A specially structured questionnaire was applied as a research instrument, together with blood sample taking for laboratory analysis of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of respondents show insufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS, ways of transmission prevention, especially knowledge on ways of HIV transmission. Every sixth respondent has experience of intravenous drug use, of which 58% exchanged drug injection equipment. Every fifth respondent with a tattoo had their tattoo done in prison. Below 2% of respondents quote being victims of sexual abuse, and having wilful anal sexual intercourse in prison. Test results in this research: HIV (0), HBV (1.5%), HCV (14.3%) syphilis (0.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous drug use presents the strongest risk factor for HCV, and therefore for HIV/ STIs. Other risk factors - tattooing with kit exchange, sexual risk intercourse, abuse, insufficient knowledge and information about HIV/AIDS, ways of transmission and way of protection, and lack of access to measures of prevention and "Harm reduction" programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology of Public Health Institute of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vukovarska 46, 88 000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, j.ravlija@zzjzfbih.ba.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravlija
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vasilj
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marijanović
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasilj