Babak Moazen 1, Shadi Rahimzadeh 2,1, Atefeh Noori 1, Parinaz

TUMS
NCDRC
HIV
Poster No: TUPE111
Prevention Programs
in Prison: A Global
Systematic Review
of Implementation
Babak Moazen 1, Shadi Rahimzadeh 2,1, Atefeh Noori 1,
Parinaz Mehdipour 1,Farshad Farzadfar 1, Fabienne Hariga 3, and Kate Dolan 4*
1.Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, TUMS, Iran.
2. Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
3.UNODC, Vienna.
4. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Australia.
Background
HIV prevalence is higher in prison populations than in the surrounding community as PWIDs are
vastly over-represented. Globally PWIDs account for more than 30% of prisoners, but less than 1%
of the general population in virtually all countries. HIV prevention programs are common in
community settings. Prisons have characteristics which can facilitate HIV transmission;
risk behaviour is common and prevention efforts lag behind community efforts. Yet a global
understanding of the HIV situation in prison is lacking. The aim was to systematically review HIV
prevention programs in the world’s prisons.
Methods
Data came from a multilingual desk review of peer-reviewed (Medline, EMBASE and Web of
Science databases) and grey literature from 2008 to 2012. UN colleagues were surveyed on the
availability of 15 HIV key interventions in the HIV prevention, treatment and care in prisons and other
closed settings: a comprehensive package of interventions.
Region
Total
Number of Countries
187
With HIV Programs
91
VCT
65
IEC
53
Diagnosis and Treatment of TB
45
HIV Treatment, Care and Support
42
Viral Hepatitis Services
41
Prevent and Treat STI
35
Results
Over 13,000 documents were reviewed for data on prison based HIV
prevention programs in 187 countries. More than one half of all countries
provided no HIV intervention programs.
Conclusion
OST
35
The
prison
setting
should
be
a
strategic
location
to
prevent
HIV
Condom Program
25
Protecting Staff
23
transmission yet the availability of HIV programs was woefully low. It
PMTCT
13
is both a human rights and a public health issue. Less than one third
NSP
13
Medical / Dental Transmission Protection
11
of
all
countries
provided
VCT.
Few
countries
provided
life-saving
AIDS
Post Exposure Prophylaxis
8
treatment to inmates. Just a few countries provided condoms, OST or
Prevention of Sexual Violence
6
Skin Penetration Protection
3
NSP which are well documented to prevent HIV transmission. Unless
efforts to address HIV in prison are increased, responses in the
community will be undermined. These findings suggest that HIV prevention in prisons may have
additional benefits of preventing HIV in the general community, given that 30 million people pass
through prisons each year.
Limitations
Our review covered 2008 to 2012 and may have missed activities documented prior to this period.