14th International AIDS Conference Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11439)

Patel AP, Pandya UA, Teraiya D, Mehta ND
Project Support Unit, Gujarat State AIDS Control Society, Ahmedabad, India

ISSUES: Prison, place where people are brought due to their risky, unlawful behaviour in society. Many of these inmates are under trial. Many prisons are over crowded for various reasons which leads to high-risk activities. After three years of successful experience, Gujarat has now replicated Surat City model to cover entire Prison Sector in State. Prison projects are implemented within the premises of prison with the collaboration of prison authority. Descriptions: Gujarat has 10 major prisons including 2 central, 6 district and 2 special prisons and all prisons are overcrowded with large number of under trials. Prison authority was very co-operative hence it was easy to initiate State level coverage in Prison. PSU, a State management unit, played key role to get permission from authorities and provided support to build capacity for project implementation in their respective prisons. LESSONS LEARNT: - The Prison is also a place where high-risk sexual activity takes place. - Involvement of Prison authority is foundation for success. - Capacity building of local prison authority ensures success for project implementation. - Networking with entire prison sector adds towards sustainability of activity. - Ensuring linkages of prison inmates and their life outside of prison, once they are released is essential for behaviour change. - Linkages with other recreational, spiritual or physical entertainment have catalytic effect. - Convicted prison inmates for longer period are potential Peer educators. - Induction and exit counselling is a successful strategy for behaviour change.

RECOMMENDATIONS: - Local authorities should be involved in the administration of project to maintain harmony in prison. - Separate project staff in addition to regular staff is necessary for effective implementation. - Masturbation and non-penetrative sex education must be a part of behaviour change.

020707
E11439

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