Prevalence and risk behaviours for HIV infection among inmates of a provincial prison in Quebec City.

OBJECTIVE

To assess HIV prevalence and related risk factors among inmates at the Quebec Detention Centre (QDC).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional prevalence study.

METHODS

Inmates incarcerated at the QDC in September 1994 were asked to participate in an anonymous survey concerning HIV infection. Volunteers answered a questionnaire and provided a saliva sample during a meeting with an interviewer.

RESULTS

The overall participation rate was 95% (618 out of 651). HIV prevalence was 2% (11 out of 499) in men. All HIV-infected men were injecting drug users (IDU) with an HIV prevalence of 9% (11 out of 129) in this group. HIV prevalence was 14% (9/63) among male IDU admitting previous needle-sharing and 3% (two out of 66) among the other IDU (odds ratio, 5.3; P = 0.028). Twelve male inmates admitted injecting drugs during imprisonment, of whom 11 shared needles and three were HIV-positive. HIV prevalence in men reporting sexual intercourse with men prior to incarceration was 10% (five out of 52). Nine of the 119 women were HIV-infected (8%), seven of whom were IDU (prevalence of 16% in female IDU). One of the two non-IDU had sexual contacts with male IDU, and the other with men who had sex with men. Tattooing was not associated with HIV infection in either men or women.

CONCLUSIONS

Prisoners constitute a group at high risk of HIV infection mainly because of the high proportion of them who are IDU. Imprisonment offers a good opportunity to provide education and preventive programs to this specific group that might otherwise be difficult to reach.