HIV

Prisoners

Prisoners have been identified as one of the four most vulnerable and at risk populations for HIV. They often tend to have a higher prevalence of HIV infection, not only because they engage in behaviours that put them at higher risk, but also because of the unhealthy environment they live in. In fact, prisons are often referred to as “incubators” of HIV infection, Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its National Societies are currently undertaking a project aimed at updating data on the relation between the activities of the National Societies and HIV prevalence in prisons. The project aims to measure the extend to which former detainees have access to National Societies' health programmes in the period following their release. It also seeks to collect information on public health activities - including psychosocial support - which are carried out inside prisons.

One of the main reasons for focusing on former detainees is that tuberculosis treatment, which has been started while incarcerated, is frequently discontinued upon release. This leads to the spread of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and potentially very serious public health consequences.

In relation to HIV, National Societies can play a significant role during transition periods by helping to ensure continuity from prison based prevention and harm reduction programmes to community based initiatives. This includes programmes for injecting drug users, like drug substitution, access to HIV testing, anti-retroviral therapy and other HIV/AIDS related community based health services.

Publications

• Activities of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Prisons, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 1994
• Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, 2006
• Alex Gatherer, MD, Lars Moller, MD, PhD and Paul Hayton, MA, DipHEd “The World Health Organization European Health in Prisons Project After 10 Years: Persistent Barriers and Achievements” in American Journal of Public Health (October 2005), Vol 95, No. 10;
• Hernan Reyes MD, International Committee of the Red Cross, "HIV in Prisons: A reader with particular relevance to the newly independent states", chapter 2
• Spreading the Light of Science: Guidelines on harm reduction to injecting drug use, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, 2003