Document 0239
 DOCN  M9590239
 TI    A contemporary evaluation of the risk of HIV transmission among
       prisoners in South Australia.
 DT    9509
 AU    Seamark R; Gaughwin M; Department of Community Medicine University of
       Adelaide, North; Terrace, South Australia.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6;6:286 (unnumbered poster).
       Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM6/95291860
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk of HIV transmission among SA prisoners.
       METHODOLOGY: Description of temporal trends in the prevalence of HIV
       among prisoners, 1989-1993. Description of the condition of injecting
       equipment found in prisons. Case control study of all known infected
       prisoners and a random sample of uninfected prisoners examining
       demographic, health and incarceration history variables. RESULTS: There
       has been a decline in peak prevalence of HIV among prisoners from 1.3%
       in 1990 to 0.7% in 1993. However prevalence varied markedly over periods
       as short as 6 months. Injecting equipment found in the prisons was often
       in poor condition indicating that they had been used on many occasions;
       about 24% of syringes contained visible blood. HIV-infected prisoners
       were more likely to be recorded in medical notes as injecting drug
       users, were older and had spent longer in prison than controls.
       CONCLUSION: While there appears to be a trend toward declining
       prevalence of HIV among prisoners it is clear that very risky injecting
       practices continue. Since injecting drug use is associated with
       increased risk of being HIV infected the possibility of outbreaks of HIV
       transmission among prisoners remains.
 DE    Adult  Human  HIV Infections/EPIDEMIOLOGY/PREVENTION &
       CONTROL/*TRANSMISSION  HIV Seroprevalence/*TRENDS  Male  Needle
       Sharing/ADVERSE EFFECTS/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA  Prisoners/*STATISTICS &
       NUMER DATA  South Australia/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).