TY - JOUR
T1 - HIV seroprevalence among newly incarcerated inmates in the Texas Correctional System
AU - Helen Wu, Z.
AU - Baillargeon, Jacques
AU - Grady, James J.
AU - Black, Sandra A.
AU - Dunn, Kim
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was partially supported by Grant No. 98-CE-VX-0022 from the National Institute of Justice. The authors greatly appreciate the contributions of the study oversight committee members: Lannette Linthicum, MD, Mike Kelley, MD, Sharon Melville, MD, Bill Gonzalez, MD, Tarek Elghetany, MD, Owen Murry, MD, Daniel Freeman, Jr., PhD, Emil Miskovsky, MD, and Mr. James Riley. We also thank Mike Kelly, MD, for comments on a previous draft, and Ron Steffa from Executive Services from TDCJ and Micheal Eisenberg from Texas Criminal Justice Council for their providence of the current TDCJ data information.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - PURPOSE: The seroprevalence of HIV infection was examined among a sample of incoming inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison system. Rates were compared across sociodemographic factors and three types of prison facilities: substance abuse felony punishment units (SAFPs), state jails, and prisons. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 4386 incoming inmates incarcerated for any duration, dating from November 1, 1998, to May 31, 1999.RESULTS: Among males, inmates entering state jails had a higher HIV infection rate (3.7%) than either inmates entering prisons (1.9%) or those entering SAFPs (0.5%). Among females, inmates entering prisons had a higher rate of infection (9.3%) than those entering state jails (2.5%) or SAFPs (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Although a number of blinded HIV seroprevalence studies have been conducted in U.S. prison systems, scarce information is currently available on HIV infection rates in alternative correctional facilities. The present study shows that HIV seropositivity varied substantially according to race, gender, and prison facility type. Given the shorter incarceration periods for inmates held in alternative facilities, understanding how infection rates vary according to type of incarceration facility holds particular public health relevance.
AB - PURPOSE: The seroprevalence of HIV infection was examined among a sample of incoming inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison system. Rates were compared across sociodemographic factors and three types of prison facilities: substance abuse felony punishment units (SAFPs), state jails, and prisons. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 4386 incoming inmates incarcerated for any duration, dating from November 1, 1998, to May 31, 1999.RESULTS: Among males, inmates entering state jails had a higher HIV infection rate (3.7%) than either inmates entering prisons (1.9%) or those entering SAFPs (0.5%). Among females, inmates entering prisons had a higher rate of infection (9.3%) than those entering state jails (2.5%) or SAFPs (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Although a number of blinded HIV seroprevalence studies have been conducted in U.S. prison systems, scarce information is currently available on HIV infection rates in alternative correctional facilities. The present study shows that HIV seropositivity varied substantially according to race, gender, and prison facility type. Given the shorter incarceration periods for inmates held in alternative facilities, understanding how infection rates vary according to type of incarceration facility holds particular public health relevance.
KW - Alternative correctional facility
KW - HIV epidemiology
KW - Inmates
KW - Prison
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U2 - 10.1016/S1047-2797(01)00210-1
DO - 10.1016/S1047-2797(01)00210-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 11399449
AN - SCOPUS:0034990988
SN - 1047-2797
VL - 11
SP - 342
EP - 346
JO - Annals of Epidemiology
JF - Annals of Epidemiology
IS - 5
ER -