Gaps between HIV/AIDS policies and treatment in correctional facilities

J Health Hum Serv Adm. 2001 Fall;24(2):171-98.

Abstract

In this article the authors examined correctional policy and its impact on the incidence of HIV/AIDS in prison population. Using data from the Florida Correctional System, they find that HIV/AIDS is still the leading cause of death. Improved treatment and care may have led to declines in AIDS-related mortality but the prison population continues to experience a much higher risk of mortality than he general population in spite of changes in the treatment and provision of care to infected patients. The dominance of HIV-related deaths indicates that treatment and voluntary testing policy have been ineffective. The authors argue that the persistence of HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths is largely attributable to continuing unequal distribution of health care resources between identified and unidentified HIV-infected inmates. Their analysis suggests that future changes in HIV/AIDS policy ib testing and treatment can contribute to improvement in health conditions of infected inmates.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Serodiagnosis*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / mortality
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / prevention & control
  • Cause of Death / trends*
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / mortality
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control*
  • Health Resources
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Mandatory Testing
  • Organizational Policy*
  • Population Surveillance
  • Primary Prevention / organization & administration
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data
  • Prisons / organization & administration*
  • Voluntary Programs