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HIV prevention in prisons. Do international guidelines matter?
Paola Bollini1, Jean-Dominique Laporte, Timothy W Harding
1Institute of Legal Medicine, Humanitarian Action Programme, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
European Journal of Public Health
|June 21, 2002
Summary
Prison HIV prevention policies vary significantly, with limited implementation of international guidelines. Factors influencing these policies require further investigation to improve care and harm reduction strategies for incarcerated populations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Criminology
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- International HIV prevention guidelines exist, yet prison-based care remains suboptimal globally.
- Factors influencing the quality of HIV prevention policies within correctional facilities are not well understood.
- This study addresses the need to elucidate these factors and assess current policies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate national HIV prevention policies implemented in prisons across selected countries.
- To identify country-level factors that impact the development and effectiveness of these policies.
Main Methods:
- Comparative policy review of HIV prevention in prisons in Moldova, Hungary, Russia (Nizhny Novgorod), Switzerland, and Italy.
- Data collection involved interviews with government officials, NGOs, and healthcare professionals, alongside prison site visits.
- Inclusion of data on broader prisoner health, including tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
Main Results:
- All reviewed countries have adopted some form of HIV prevention policy, regardless of the prevalence of HIV in their prison systems.
- Policy content generally reflects broader community-based HIV prevention strategies.
- The 1993 World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for HIV prevention in prisons were fully implemented in only one country (Switzerland) and partially in two (Italy, Hungary).
Conclusions:
- Enhanced dissemination of information, technical expertise, and resources are crucial for improving prison HIV prevention.
- Increased national and international collaboration is necessary to foster dialogue and achieve consensus on harm reduction within correctional settings.