HIV risk inside U.S. prisons: a systematic review of risk reduction interventions conducted in U.S. prisons

Effectiveness of a culturally tailored HIV intervention in promoting PrEP among black women who use drugs in community supervision programs in New York City: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

In the U.S. there are significant racial and gender disparities in the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Black Americans represented 14% of PrEP users in 2022, but accounted for 42% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021 and in the South, Black people represented 48% of new HIV diagnoses in 2021 but only 21% of PrEP users in 2022. Women who use drugs may be even less likely than women who do not use drugs have initiated PrEP. Moreover, women involved in community supervision programs (CSP) are less likely to initiate or use PrEP, More PrEP interventions that focus on Black women with recent history of drug use in CSPs are needed to reduce inequities in PrEP uptake.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial with a sub-sample (n = 336) of the total (N = 352) participants from the parent study (E-WORTH), who tested HIV negative at baseline were considered PrEP-eligible. Black women were recruited from CSPs in New York City (NYC), with recent substance use. Participants were randomized to either E-WORTH (n = 172) an HIV testing plus, receive a 5-session, culturally-tailored, group-based HIV prevention intervention, versus an HIV testing control group (n = 180). The 5 sessions included an introduction to PrEP and access. This paper reports outcomes on improved awareness of PrEP, willingness to use PrEP, and PrEP uptake over the 12-month follow-up period. HIV outcomes are reported in a previous paper.

RESULTS

Compared to control participants, participants in this study assigned to E-WORTH had significantly greater odds of being aware of PrEP as a biomedical HIV prevention strategy (OR = 3.25, 95% CI = 1.64-6.46, p = 0.001), and indicated a greater willingness to use PrEP as an HIV prevention method (b = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.06-0.32, p = 0.004) over the entire 12-month follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the effectiveness of a culturally-tailored intervention for Black women in CSP settings in increasing awareness, and intention to initiate PrEP. Low uptake of PrEP in both arms highlight the need for providing more robust PrEP-on-demand strategies that are integrated into other services such as substance abuse treatment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02391233 .

Life-time HIV testing among people who inject drugs in Iran: results from the National Rapid Assessment and Response survey

Background

HIV testing is recommended for people who inject drugs (PWID). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of lifetime HIV testing among PWID and to better understand the predictors for HIV testing in a convenience sample across Iran.

Materials and methods

This study is a secondary analysis of Iran's National Rapid Assessment and Response survey conducted between October 2016 and March 2017. Analysis includes the 999 people who reported injecting drugs across the capital cities of 21 provinces. Data were collected by using the venue-based application of the Time Location Sampling (TLS) frame. Chi-square tests were used to examine the difference between HIV testing across different quantitative variables. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of life-time HIV testing. Analysis was performed using STATA V.12 software with a significance level of 95%.

Results

Most participants were male (n = 902, 93.50%), and over half (n = 555, 59.17%) were older than 35 years old. About one-third, (n = 326, 38%) of people interviewed were single and another one-third (n = 251, 29%) reported being divorced. Over two-thirds of participants (n = 678, 69.78%) in this study reported lifetime HIV testing. The results from a multiple variable logistic regression showed people with a university education were more likely to have been previously tested for HIV than illiterate people (OR = 18.87, 95%CI 2.85-124.6, value of p = 0.002). Those individuals who reported ever receiving methadone treatment were 2.8 times more likely to have been tested for HIV than individuals without methadone treatment experience (OR = 2.89, 95%CI 1.53-5.42, value of p < 0.001). Needle syringe sharing in last month, was negatively associated with life-time HIV testing (OR = 0.29, 95%CI 0.17-0.48, value of p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Despite Iran's wide availability and access to counseling services for HIV testing in key populations, the proportion of PWID being tested for HIV could be improved. Developing effective strategies to increase people's understanding and awareness of the importance of and need for HIV prevention and familiarity with HIV testing sites is an essential step in increasing HIV testing for this population. Studies on more recent HIV testing are required to better assess and understand the frequency of HIV testing among PWID in Iran.

Characterizing HIV Syndemics and the Role of Incarceration Among Men Who have Sex with Men Presenting for Care at a Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic

Men who have sex with men (MSM) with a history of incarceration experience unique risk factors for HIV acquisition. The current study examined unique risk factors for HIV among MSM with a history of incarceration presenting to a sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic. We analyzed self-reported behavioral data from clinical encounters among patients attending the clinic between January 2012 and April 2021. There were 17,221 unique visits, of which 5988 were MSM. Of these, 4.34% (N = 206) were MSM with a history of incarceration. MSM with a history of incarceration were significantly more likely to report a range of behavioral risk factors for HIV, yet also were significantly less likely to perceive themselves at risk for HIV. Future research and practice should develop culturally tailored biobehavioral HIV prevention services and consider embedding these programs within criminal justice settings to better reach this at-risk group.

Factors associated with sexually transmitted diseases amongst female prison inmates in Peru

OBTECTIVES

The number of women in prison is rapidly increasing every year and it is important to establish what factors are related to the probability of presenting STDs in this population to enable health control policies to be established.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

An analysis was carried out on the open database of the national prison population survey conducted in 2016 in all Peruvian prisons. The study was based on the census and all female and male adults in prison were surveyed using a validated questionnaire.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 4,574 inmates in 67 institutions, covering 98.8% of the inmate population. It was found that presenting tuberculosis (PR: 2.64; CI 95%, 1.32-5.26), HIV/AIDS (PR 6.54, CI 95% 1.52-28.18), hepatitis (PR: 4.01; CI 95%, 1.23-13.11) and drug use (PR: 2.44; CI 95%, 1.32-4.52), are statistically related (P ≤0.05) are factors associated with the presence of STDs in the multivariate model with a P ≤0.05.

DISCUSSION

The inclusion of associated factors (tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and drug use) should be part of the strategy to control and treat STD in women's prisons in Peru.

The contingent effect of incarceration on state health outcomes

Introduction

This study examines how growth in the population of former prisoners affects rates of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV.

Methods

We estimate state-level fixed effects count models showing how the former prisoner population affected communicable disease in U.S. states from 1987 to 2010, a period of dramatic growth in incarceration.

Results

We find contingent effects, based on how specific diseases are recognized, tested, and treated in prisons. The rate of former prisoners increases diseases that are poorly addressed in the prison health care system (e.g., chlamydia), but decreases diseases that are routinely tested and treated (e.g., tuberculosis). For HIV, the relationship has shifted in response to specific treatment mandates and protocols. Data on prison healthcare spending tracks these contingencies.

Discussion

Improving the health of prisoners can improve the health of the communities to which they return. We consider these results in light of the relative quality of detection and treatment available to underserved populations within and outside prisons.

Initial implementation of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for people who are incarcerated in Zambia: a cross-sectional observational study

BACKGROUND

There are over 23 000 incarcerated people in Zambia, a population which has higher HIV prevalence than the general population yet has no access to HIV prevention. To evaluate the feasibility of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation in Zambian criminal justice facilities, we offered PrEP services to incarcerated people and aimed to describe early implementation outcomes.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional observational study, we implemented a PrEP programme between Oct 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, supporting 16 criminal justice facilities in four Zambian provinces. Before implementation, we held stakeholder engagement meetings with Zambia Correctional Service officials to discuss PrEP benefits, and trained Zambia Correctional Service health-care workers in PrEP management using the national PrEP training package. People who were incarcerated and screened positive for substantial HIV risk by use of a standardised HIV risk assessment tool were offered voluntary HIV testing and counselling. Those who tested positive were linked to antiretroviral therapy, and those who tested negative and met national HIV prevention eligibility criteria were offered PrEP. We assessed PrEP uptake and used descriptive statistics to characterise programme beneficiaries and the cascade of PrEP services.

FINDINGS

During the study period, we reached 12 367 people older than 15 years with HIV risk assessment and counselling, including 11 794 (95·4%) men and 573 (4·6%) women. Of these, 2610 people received HIV testing, with 357 (13·7%) testing HIV positive; positivity was significantly higher in women (20·6%) than men (13·2%, p=0·011). 1276 people were identified as HIV negative and PrEP eligible. Of these, 1190 (93·3%) initiated PrEP. The age group with the highest proportion reached and initiated on PrEP was those aged 25-29 years, representing 19·2% (2377 of 12 367) of all people reached and 24·1% (287 of 1190) of those who initiated PrEP.

INTERPRETATION

Delivery of PrEP to people who are incarcerated is feasible with adequate resourcing and support to the criminal justice health system, and can result in high uptake among eligible individuals. Further assessment is needed of PrEP persistence and adherence, and the perceptions of people who are incarcerated regarding their HIV risk and preferences for combination HIV prevention services.

FUNDING

US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HIV testing among incarcerated people with a history of HIV-related high-risk behaviours in Iran: Findings from three consecutive national bio-behavioural surveys

BACKGROUND

Incarcerated people are at a disproportionate risk of contracting HIV. We estimated the prevalence and correlates of HIV testing among incarcerated people with a history of HIV-related high-risk behaviours in Iran.

METHODS

Data for this analysis were obtained from three consecutive nationwide bio-behavioural surveillance surveys of a random sample of incarcerated people in 2009 (n = 5953), 2013 (n = 5490), and 2017 (n = 5785). History of testing for HIV in the last 12 months was the primary outcome variable. HIV testing was examined among those with a history of HIV-related high-risk behaviours (i.e., having multiple sex partnerships, injection drug use practices, or a history of having a tattoo). The outcome variable was divided into three categories: Never tested for HIV, ever tested for HIV inside the prison in the last 12 months, and ever tested for HIV outside the prison in the last 12 months. We used multivariable multinomial logistic regression models to examine factors associated with HIV testing.

RESULTS

Overall, 8,553 participants with a history of HIV-related high-risk behaviors with valid responses to the HIV testing question were included in the analysis. Although HIV testing inside prison has increased (23% [2009], 21.5% [2013], and 50.3% [2017]: P-value < 0.001), the prevalence of HIV testing outside prison has decreased (7.7% [2009], 7.5% [2013], 4.1% [2017]: P-value < 0.001) over time. Our multivariable multinomial regression model showed older age (Relative-risk ratio [RRR]: 1.24, 95% Confidence Intervals [CI]: 1.05, 1.47), history of the previous incarceration (RRR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.24, 1.71), currently receiving methadone maintenance therapy inside prison (RRR: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.81, 2.43), having access to condoms inside prison (RRR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.68) and sufficient HIV knowledge (RRR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.05) were significantly associated with an increased probability of having an HIV test in the last 12 months inside prison.

CONCLUSION

HIV testing among high-risk Iranian prisoners has increased from 2009 to 2017. However, HIV testing remains considerably low, and half of the incarcerated people with a history of HIV-related high-risk behaviours had never tested for HIV inside prison. Evidence-based programs are needed to optimize HIV testing inside and outside prisons and identify those at greater risk of HIV.

Factors correlated with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness and use among black adults in the United States: implications for improving HIV prevention

HIV remains a significant public health concern for Black adults (BA) in the United States. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective prevention tool prescribed to protect the health of HIV-uninfected individuals. Yet, low rates of PrEP awareness and utilization persist among BA. Less is understood about the pathways that may promote PrEP uptake. The present study explored factors associated with PrEP awareness and use among BA. Using a cross-sectional sample of 666 BA, we employed multivariable logistic regression models to examine the relationship between PrEP and several covariates. Most participants were unaware of PrEP (71%). Reporting history of incarceration and lifetime sexually transmitted infection testing [aOR 1.76 (1.19, 2.59), p < 0.05] had greater odds of PrEP awareness. Only 6% of respondents had ever taken PrEP. Reports of incarceration history [aOR 9.96 (2.82, 35.14), p < 0.05], concurrent sexual partners [aOR 1.09 (1.00, 1.18), p < 0.05], and substance use during sex [aOR 4.23 (1.02, 17.48), p < 0.05] had greater odds of PrEP use. Interventions aiming to improve PrEP uptake among BA must consider the individual, social, and structural contexts associated with its awareness and use. Enhanced efforts by healthcare providers and institutions may better facilitate access to PrEP for HIV prevention and control transmission.

Exploring Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Knowledge in Incarcerated Men

People who are incarcerated have a disproportionately high risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). While there is no known cure for HIV, there are biomedical approaches that can successfully manage the virus and prevent its transmission. A total of 267 men who are incarcerated completed a cross-sectional survey focused on cancer health, HIV prevention, and mental health in three state prisons. The mean age was 39 years. The majority had an annual income of US$10,000 or less, self-identified as heterosexual, not married, had children, did not have any military status, and identified as African American/Black. Less than 4% indicated that they had heard about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and only 3% had heard of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). PrEP and PEP effectively prevent HIV infection, but little attention has focused on increasing the knowledge and awareness of these HIV prevention interventions in the incarcerated population.

Social Disparities among Sudden Death victims with HIV

Although cardiovascular death is a growing source of mortality for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the risk factors and circumstances surrounding sudden death in this population are poorly understood. We compared 399 adult sudden death victims reported by Emergency Medical Services in North Carolina to 1,114 controls. Sudden death was more common among HIV-positive than HIV-negative individuals (OR: 2.59, 95% CI: 1.15-5.83). In a multivariable model of sudden death victims including Black race, BMI, and history of divorce, incarceration, substance abuse, and respiratory disease, HIV-positive individuals were more likely to be Black (adjusted OR [aOR]: 6.04, 95% CI: 1.08-33.7) or divorced (aOR: 4.71, 95% CI: 1.04-21.3), adjusted for all other variables in the model. Compared to controls with HIV, sudden death victims with HIV were more likely to have a history of incarceration, divorce, respiratory disease, alcohol abuse, or dyslipidemia. A qualitative assessment of victims suggested that many died in isolation, suffering from past and current substance abuse and depression. HIV infection appears to be an important risk factor for sudden death, and incarceration history, social isolation, and medical comorbidities contribute to sudden death risk for HIV-positive individuals.

Peer Education and Peer Counselling for Health and Well-Being: A Review of Reviews

Peer education and peer counselling for health and wellbeing have been recognized as complementary approaches to professional intervention for over 50 years, but it is relatively recently that research into effects has become adequate. Potentially, they have advantages in reaching where professionals cannot, but it has not been clear if that potential is fulfilled, although the measurement of effects is difficult. The present paper examines 58 narrative and systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the topic. In peer education, there were many reviews of sexual health and of HIV/AIDS interventions, followed by reviews of various medical conditions and in the context of prisons. More general reviews covered a wider field. In peer counselling, there were several reviews of breast-feeding and mental health. Many early reviews complained of the lack of evaluation; then, later reviews found knowledge gains but not behavior gains; then, still later reviews found both knowledge and behavior gains. Thus, peer education and counselling appear effective but only if organizational factors are well managed and the cultural context of the country respected. The implications for future practice, policy and research were outlined.

Glaucoma Care of Incarcerated Patients at an Academic Institution: A Case-Control Study

Purpose:

To evaluate medication and follow-up adherence in incarcerated patients examined at an academic glaucoma clinic, in comparison to nonincarcerated controls.

Methods:

Retrospective, case-control study. Consecutive prisoners presenting for initial visits in the Glaucoma Clinic at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary between December 2015 and December 2017 were included in the study. Nonincarcerated patients seen in the same Glaucoma Clinic with similar initial visit dates, age, race, sex, and disease severity were selected as controls. Glaucoma Clinic visits from each patient were reviewed until December 2018. Examination information, surgical intervention, follow-up and treatment recommendations, and patient-reported medication usage were recorded for each visit. Number of visits, loss to follow-up, follow-up delays, and medication nonadherence were studied as primary outcome measures.

Results:

Twenty-four prisoners and 24 nonincarcerated controls were included. Prisoners had an average of 2.46 ± 2.38 visits during the study period, compared to 5.04 ± 3.25 for controls (P = 0.001). Follow-up visits occurred more than 30 days after the recommended follow-up time in 57.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44.2%–70.6%) of prisoners, compared to 17.9% (95% CI: 10.2%–25.6%) of controls (P < 0.00001). 70.8% of prisoners (95% CI: 66.3–74.5%) were lost to follow-up, compared to 29.2% of controls (95% CI: 25.5%–32.9%; P < 0.01). Medication nonadherence rates were similar between prisoners (13.6%; 95% CI: 12.1%–15.2%) and controls (12.0%; 95% CI: 11.4%–12.6%; P = 0.78).

Conclusions:

Glaucoma follow-up adherence was significantly worse in prisoners compared to a nonincarcerated control population. Further study into causative factors is needed.

Lifetime Burden of Incarceration and Violence, Internalized Homophobia, and HIV/STI Risk Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in the HPTN 061 Study

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) have disproportionate HIV/STI acquisition risk. Incarceration may increase exposure to violence and exacerbate psychosocial vulnerabilities, including internalized homophobia, which are associated with HIV/STI acquisition risk. Using data from HIV Prevention Trials Network 061 (N = 1553), we estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (APR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between lifetime burden of incarceration and HIV/STI risk outcomes. We measured associations between incarceration and HIV/STI risk outcomes with hypothesized mediators of recent violence victimization and internalized homophobia. Compared to those never incarcerated, those with 3-9 or ≥ 10 incarcerations had approximately 10% higher prevalence of multiple partnerships. Incarceration burden was associated with selling sex (1-2 incarcerations: APR: 1.52, 95% CI 1.14-2.03; 3-9: APR: 1.77, 95% CI 1.35-2.33; ≥ 10: APR: 1.85, 95% CI 1.37-2.51) and buying sex (≥ 10 incarcerations APR: 1.80, 95% CI 1.18-2.75). Compared to never incarcerated, 1-2 incarcerations appeared to be associated with current chlamydia (APR: 1.47, 95% CI 0.98-2.20) and 3-9 incarcerations appeared to be associated with current syphilis (APR: 1.46, 95% CI 0.92-2.30). Incarceration was independently associated with violence, which in turn was a correlate of transactional sex. Longitudinal research is warranted to clarify the role of incarceration in violence and HIV/STI risk in this population.

Glaucoma Care of Prison Inmates at an Academic Hospital

Importance

Glaucoma care for prison inmates is underrepresented in the literature even though managing the treatment of such patients may provide unique challenges.

Objectives

To evaluate the glaucoma profile of prison inmates treated at an academic ophthalmology center and to report on the medical and surgical management and follow-up metrics.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study assessed data from 82 incarcerated patients treated at the glaucoma clinic, an academic referral center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, between January 2013 and December 2017.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Diagnosis, glaucoma severity, medical and surgical interventions, and patient-reported medication adherence were recorded for each visit. Recommended and actual follow-up times were recorded and compared. Data analyses were conducted from January 2013 to December 2018.

Results

In total, 82 patients (161 eyes) had 375 visits during the study period. All patients were male and ranged from 20 to 75 years of age (mean [SD] age, 50.8 [11.9] years). Most participants were black patients (65 [79.3%]). The most common diagnoses were primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG; 53 eyes [32.9%]) and POAG suspect (52 eyes [32.3%]). Glaucoma severity ranged from mild (25 of 77 eyes [32.5%]) to advanced (41 of 77 eyes [53.2%]). Overall, 59 patients (73.2%) were treated medically with up to 4 topical agents (40.0%). Of those treated, 70.0% of patients (95% CI, 57.7%-81.2%) reported medication nonadherence during at least 1 visit. Medication nonadherence was more common among those taking 4 different topical medications (21 of 24 [87.5%]) compared with others taking fewer medications (20 of 35 [57.1%]), for a difference of 30.4% (95% CI, 7.0%-53.6%; P = .02), and among those with advanced disease (22 of 26 [84.6%]) compared with glaucoma suspect (6 of 13 [46.2%]), for a difference of 38.4% (95% CI, 9.3%-67.5%; P = .02). Nineteen office procedures, including laser peripheral iridotomy and laser trabeculoplasty, were performed on 14 eyes. Seventeen incisional glaucoma procedures were performed on 15 eyes, including glaucoma drainage device implant (11 procedures [64.7%]) and trabeculectomy (3 procedures [17.6%]). Only 26.6% of return office visits (95% CI, 21.3%-32.3%) occurred within the recommended follow-up time frame. Furthermore, 93 patients (34.8%; 95% CI, 28.2%-40.0%) were seen more than 1 month after the recommended follow-up.

Conclusions and Relevance

Despite incarceration in prison, where medication administration and appointment attendance are theoretically controlled, the results of this study suggested that substantial medication and follow-up nonadherence exists among inmates.

CARE TO INCARCERTAED PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS: LITERATURE REVIEW

ABSTRACT Objective: to describe health care provided to people living with HIV/AIDS in the penitentiary system. Method: a narrative review of the literature that considered publications from 2012 to 2017. The bibliographic survey was performed using controlled descriptors and keywords in the LILACS, PubMed, Embase, Cinahl and Scopus databases. Result: a total of 215 studies were retrieved that went through three selection stages, including nine. These were grouped according to the areas: HIV prevention, HIV testing and diagnosis, HIV treatment, and articulation between Health Services in addressing HIV. Conclusion: prisons have the capacity to offer quality health care to persons deprived of their liberty living with HIV, through health promotion and prevention of the HIV virus, as well as early diagnosis and adherence to treatment.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of HIV in prisons in Balochistan, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

Background: The prevalence of HIV is 0.1% in Pakistan, with epidemicity in high-risk groups. The infection is on verge of transmission from key populations to the general population through people who inject drugs and sexual transmission. Prisoners are vulnerable to infectious diseases like HIV. This study was conducted in four prisons in Balochistan, Pakistan to determine the prevalence of HIV and associated risk factors.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted from March to June 2018, in the prisons of Balochistan. WHO-approved rapid diagnostic kits were used for determining the prevalence of HIV and structured interviews were conducted for the assessment of risk factors.

Results: Out of 2084 screened prisoners, 33 (1.6%) were found to be positive. A subset of 104 interviews was analyzed for risk factors of HIV. Among HIV-infected prisoners 68.8% (OR 4.48; 95% CI 1.41-14.2) had extramarital sex, 43.8% (OR 2.09 95% CI 0.69-6.28) had a homosexual experience, and 50% had a history of needle sharing (OR 43; 95% CI 7.77-237). About 94% (OR 16.42; 95% CI 2.09-129.81) of prisoners had a history of drug addiction of any type while 50% (OR 13; 95% CI 2.82-60.01) of HIV-infected had a history of using injectable drugs. Around 75% of HIV-infected prisoners had spent 1-5 years in prison, and 25% had spent more than 10 years.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of HIV in prisons of Balochistan demands that preventive and treatment strategies should be designed and implemented carefully, allowing early diagnosis and treatment initiation to minimize the spread of infection among the prisons and ultimately their onward transmission into the community.