Developing effective HIV prevention programs for inmates: results from an Ontario-wide survey

Many studies of the characteristics, behaviours, and prevalence of HIV among those admitted to Canadian correctional facilities indicate that inmates are at increased risk for HIV infection and that they be targeted for HIV interventions. Yet the development and implementation of these programs has been much too slow and, at times, inappropriate to the prison environment. Further, the effectiveness of current and proposed policies and programs must be evaluated to ensure that the goal of reducing HIV transmission is achieved. To address these issues, a team of University of Toronto researchers undertook a study entitled "The Social and Structural Determinants of HIV-Related Risk Behaviours among Prisoners: Implications for Prevention." This study surveyed adult males and females incarcerated in six provincial correctional centres in Ontario. The following provides a brief overview of the study and its results.