AEGiS-15IAC: HIV infection prevention and control in Canadian federal penitentiaries: a review.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

HIV infection prevention and control in Canadian federal penitentiaries: a review.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. C10412)

Bouchard F
Fedral government, Ottawa, Canada

ISSUES: Inmates in correctional facilities around the world bear a disproportionate burden of illness related to infectious diseases compared to the general population. Due to the environment, implementation of prevention and control strategies for infectious diseases pose unique challenges to health care.

DESCRIPTION: This paper will present the different interventions implemented in Canadian federal penitentiaries to address HIV infection, from surveillance to harm reduction. Most recent data on HIV prevalence and risk factors will be included. Evaluation data on the expanded methadone treatment progam will be presented.

LESSONS LEARNED: Some important considerations are made. The value of integrating HIV prevention interventions with other blood borne disease control interventions is to be considered when dealing with correctional environments in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. Also, staff training and education as well as coordination support are key to insure activities are implemented. Recommendation: Our experience supports an integrated approach to blood borne infections for prevention and control in prisons settings.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prisons, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Communicable Diseases, Prevalence, Risk Factors, HIV Seropositivity, Delivery of Health Care, Canada, prevention & control

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C10412