AEGiS-13IAC: HIV seroprevalance and prevelant attitudes amongst the prisoners: A case study in Mysore, Karnataka state India.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

HIV seroprevalance and prevelant attitudes amongst the prisoners: A case study in Mysore, Karnataka state India.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. MoPeC2333)

Ghante Nagaraj S, Sarvade M, Muthanna L, Raju R, Aju S, Sarvade NM
S. Ghante Nagaraj, Asha Kirana, 66 Gokulam Road, Jayalaxmipram, Mysore 570 012, India, Tel.: +91 821 517 998, Fax: +91 821 510 688, E-mail: mayura1@vsnl.com

BACKGROUND: Karnataka state is one of the high prevalent states of HIV/ AIDS in India. Fears and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS amongst the wardens and inmates of Prisons are a scarcely addressed problem in India. Media and people living outside are less eager to understand the inadequacies faced by this incarcerated population. Majority of the prisoners have not received appropriate health care or HIV directed services prior to or during incarceration. High proportion of female prisoners are Commercial Sex Workers. Follow up services after their release are non existent. Asha Kirana, a Voluntary organisation involved in AIDS care and research is working closely with the staff of Mysore jail and provides weekly counselling services to the inmates on HIV/AIDS and STD. Asha Kirana is in the process of evolving an intervention model under the directive of the state Government.

METHODS: Following group counselling, blood test for HIV by ELISA method was undertaken for 831 inmates of Mysore Jail. 561 inmates answered a self-addressed questionnaire to evaluate attitudes and awareness level of HIV/AIDS and STD. Illiterate inmates were interviewed individually and responses recorded. Focus group discussions were held with the warden and few senior inmates of the prison.

RESULTS: Seroprevalence amongst the inmates was 1.68 %; prevalence rate was high of 9.5% amongst female inmates because almost 1/3rd of them were Commercial Sex Workers. Amongst female sex workers, the incidence was 25%. 58% of total inmates have heard of HIV/AIDS. 25% know that it is a fatal infection and 38% believe it is only a STD. 24% of respondents admit to their homosexual practices, 1/5th of whom have acquired this practice while in prison. 16% recommend isolation of people with AIDS and 18% suggest that they should be discharged from prison.

CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to improve awareness level and prevalent attitudes amongst the inmates. Prison is most appropriate place for targeted intervention and education of female sex workers about sex practices, which would save themselves, and the community from contracting AIDS

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Prisoners, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Prisons, HIV Seropositivity, Attitude, Prevalence, Homosexuality, Prostitution, Counseling, Questionnaires, HIV Seroprevalence, Data Collection, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Seroepidemiologic Studies, India, Female
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MoPeC2333