A mathematical model of HIV transmission in NSW prisons

Drug Alcohol Depend. 1998 May 1;50(3):197-202. doi: 10.1016/s0376-8716(98)00009-x.

Abstract

A mathematical model was developed to estimate HIV incidence in NSW prisons. Data included: duration of imprisonment; number of inmates using each needle; lower and higher number of shared injections per IDU per week; proportion of IDUs using bleach; efficacy of bleach; HIV prevalence and probability of infection. HIV prevalence in IDUs in prison was estimated to have risen from 0.8 to 6.7% (12.2%) over 180 weeks when using lower (and higher) values for frequency of shared injections. The estimated minimum (and maximum) number of IDU inmates, infected with HIV in NSW prisons was 38 (and 152) in 1993 according to the model. These figures require confirmation by seroincidence studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Databases, Factual / statistics & numerical data
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Needle Sharing* / adverse effects
  • Needle Sharing* / statistics & numerical data
  • New South Wales / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Prisoners / statistics & numerical data*
  • Probability
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous* / complications
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous* / epidemiology