Correlates of HIV infection and being unaware of HIV status among soon-to-be-released Ukrainian prisoners

J Int AIDS Soc. 2014 Sep 10;17(1):19005. doi: 10.7448/IAS.17.1.19005. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Introduction: Prisoners bear a disproportionate burden of Ukraine's volatile and transitional HIV epidemic, yet little is known in Eastern Europe about HIV testing, treatment and HIV-related risk among prisoners.

Methods: A nationally representative biobehavioural health survey linked with serological testing was conducted among soon-to-be released prisoners in 13 Ukrainian prisons from June to November 2011.

Results: Among 402 participants, 78 (19.4%) tested HIV seropositive of whom 38 (50.7%) were previously unaware of their HIV status. Independent correlates of HIV infection included drug injection (AOR=4.26; 95% CI: 2.23-8.15), female gender (AOR=2.00; 95% CI: 1.06-3.78), previous incarceration (AOR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.07-3.70) and being from Southern Ukraine (AOR=5.46; 95% CI: 2.21-13.46). Those aware of being HIV-positive reported significantly more pre-incarceration sex- and drug-related HIV risk behaviours than those who were unaware.

Conclusions: Routine rather than risk-based HIV testing and expansion of opioid substitution and antiretroviral therapy among prisoners is urgently needed to reduce HIV transmission in volatile transitional HIV epidemics.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Ukraine; injection drug use; prisoners; risk behaviours; substance use.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prisoners*
  • Risk Factors
  • Ukraine / epidemiology
  • Young Adult