title: [Serological and Behavioral Survey on HIV/AIDS among prisoners in Nouakchott (Mauritania)].
abstract: In Mauritania, epidemiological data estimate national HIV prevalence to less than 1%. Our study is the first joint survey on HIV/AIDS conducted among prisoners in Mauritania. It is a cross-sectional survey with anonymity and informed consent. The study covered a sample of 296 prisoners enrolled in a population of 706 prisoners held in Nouakchott. The sex ratio was 14.6. The refusal rate of blood sample was 4.7%. HIV prevalence in the sample was 3.9%. 53.37% of prisoners knew the concept of seropositivity but only 7.4% had a perfect knowledge of the ways of HIV transmission untainted by false beliefs. The results showed that 99% of prisoners knew that the condom is a means of protection against HIV infection, but they also showed many false beliefs about protection against HIV in the majority of prisoners. Indeed, 98.49% of respondents said they protected themselves by avoiding sex with strangers and 94.97% of them thought that sex with young girls or virgins are protection against HIV. Nearly one quarter of the prisoners did not have a good perception of risk of contracting HIV in prison although homosexual relations between prisoners have been reported. This study showed that prisoners in Mauritania are a vulnerable group to HIV because the prevalence of HIV in this group was higher than the national prevalence and this sub-population was unfamiliar with the disease and adopt risk behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Institut national de recherches en santé publique, BP 695, Nouakchott, Mauritanie, Khadijeba@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keita
authors.forename: F Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Fall-Malick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mint Beibakar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Lo
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003469:Culture; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008435:Mauritania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult