A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey for HIV-1 and high risk sexual behaviour of seropositives in a prison in India
Sundar, M.; Ravikumar, K.K.; Sudarshan, M.K.
Indian Journal of Public Health 39(3): 116-118
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-557X PMID: 8690491 Document Number: 300390
Throughout 1993, health workers took blood samples from 1007 prisoners awaiting trial and 107 convicted inmates in the Central Prison in Bangalore, India, for HIV-1 screening. All these prisoners were male and underwent pretest counseling. 20 (1.98%) prisoners awaiting trial and none of the permanent convicts tested positive for HIV-1 antibodies. Only 13 underwent post-test counseling. Many prisoners initially denied the possibility of being HIV positive. Many suffered psychologically, breaking down or becoming depressed. The HIV-1 positive prisoners tended to be illiterate (53%), poor (69%), and married (61%) and their job involved traveling (61%). All reported having had many casual sexual relationships, particularly in brothels and cheap hotels. Some prisoners had these relationships outside of Bangalore. 23% of the HIV-1 positive prisoners had had sexual intercourse with 50-60 women. 69% did not use condoms. 39% had used urine and/or soda water to wash their genitals after sexual intercourse. No one had used intravenous drugs. No one had had a blood transfusion. 30% had tatoos. 50% of the HIV-1 positive prisoners had lost weight. 15% had diarrhea, weight loss, and persistent glandular lymphadenopathy. All had used pyoderma antibiotics (e.g., penicillin and gentamicin). 90% knew nothing about HIV/AIDS. 13 of the 20 prisoners were released from the prison and lost to follow-up. Since prisoners are easily accessible and there is a steady flow of prisoners awaiting trial, it is important to routinely screen them, conduct contact tracing, and do follow-up action to prevent further HIV-1 transmission in the community. Similar surveys should be conducted in other prisons nationwide.