AEGiS-APPJ: The Effects of Teaching on the Acquisition of AIDS Knowledge Among Inmates

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1990. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

The Effects of Teaching on the Acquisition of AIDS Knowledge Among Inmates

AIDS & Public Policy Journal 5, no. 4 (Winter 1990): 178-80
Gayle D. Monnig and Don Johnson

The Worcester, MA, AIDS Consortium therefore developed and implemented a specific plan to educate high-risk groups, including jail inmates, about AIDS. The inmates were offered weekly educational sessions, HIV testing, and follow-up support. Because the effectiveness of this type of program remained undetermined, the authors established a similar program in a San Antonio, TX, jail. The following report describes the impact of education in the correctional setting on AIDS knowledge among inmates. The sample consisted of 393 inmates in the detoxification unit of the Texas County Jail in San Antonio. Most of the inmates were Hispanic or black. The weekly educational program provided to the detoxification inmates consisted of three components: the pre-test, the lecture/discussion, and the post-test. The pre-test and post-test contained the same 10 multiple choice questions about AIDS and HIV transmission. Following the pre-test, the inmates received basic information about HIV and its transmission. Specific high-risk behaviors, such as needle sharing and sexual behaviors, were discussed in detail. Many misconceptions related to HIV transmission were clarified. Following the discussion, the post-test was administered and confidential HIV testing was made available. At this point, individual inmates usually approached the presenter with specific personal concerns and questions.
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