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. 2013 Oct;17(8):2685-94.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-011-9990-2.

HIV risk behaviors of male and female jail inmates prior to incarceration and one year post-release

Leah M Adams  1 , Stephanie Kendall, Alison Smith, Erin Quigley, Jeffrey B Stuewig, June P Tangney
Affiliations

HIV risk behaviors of male and female jail inmates prior to incarceration and one year post-release

Leah M Adams et al. AIDS Behav. 2013 Oct.

Abstract

Individuals cycling in and out of the criminal justice system are at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. Most infections are contracted in the community, not during incarceration, but little is known about the profile of risk behaviors responsible for this elevated infection rate. This study investigated pre-incarceration and post-release HIV risk behaviors in a longitudinal study of 542 male and female inmates in a Northern Virginia jail. Although there was a significant decrease in risky behavior from pre-incarceration to post-incarceration, participants reported high levels of unprotected sexual activity and risky IV drug behaviors at both time points, emphasizing the need for prevention programming among this at-risk population. Gender differences in participants' pre-incarceration and post-release HIV risk behaviors suggest the need for gender-specific interventions to reduce overall HIV risk. Identifying specific HIV risk behaviors of jail inmates is vital to improve treatment and intervention efforts inside and outside of correctional settings.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Consort diagram of study participants
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