Analysis of risk factors affecting the HIV epidemic process in the penitentiary system

Abstract

Introduction. For more than 10 years, the Tumen Region has been reporting steadily high rates of HIV infection prevalence. Among the groups at risk for HIV infection, a special place is occupied by the group of incarcerated individuals. This group is mostly represented by drug users, men who have sex with men, commercial sex workers. Diseases acquired during imprisonment or exacerbated in a prison setting become a problem not only for released inmates, but also for communities outside the prison system. Epidemiologically, it is critically important to identify the prison-related factors contributing to HIV progression, considering their unequal significance among incarcerated individuals and civilian population.The aim of the study is to identify and assess the risk factors affecting the HIV epidemic process in the high riskgroup density areas.Materials and methods. The study was performed using epidemiological study and stepwise logistic regression methods.Results. Since 2008, the epidemiological situation in prison settings has become increasingly severe, being characterized by higher rates of detection of HIV cases and HIV prevalence among inmates. The situation has also been aggravated by high death rates among HIV-infected inmates. Our study found that the high risk of fatal outcomes in HIV-infected inmates was associated with multiple parameters: the male gender, parenteral (injection drug use) HIV transmission, existing comorbidities – viral hepatitis and thoracic diseases.