A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey for HIV-1 and high risk sexual behaviour of seropositives in a prison in India.

This study was conducted to know whether prisoners constitute a "high risk group" for HIV transmission in India today. A sero-epidemiological period prevalence survey was conducted in Central Prison, Bangalore, South India covering 1007 undertrials and 107 permanent convicts during January to December 1993. Twenty (1.98%) undertrials and none of the permanent convicts were seropositive for HIV infection. All of them were males and 1.6(80%) of them were in the age group of 20-30 years. Low literacy, poor income, sexual promiscuity and low condom usage were observed among the seropositives. Thus, prisoners constitute a high risk group and routine screening and counselling are recommended.