Difference between revisions of "HIV in Prison"
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== Causes of HIV in Prison == | == Causes of HIV in Prison == | ||
| − | The spreading of HIV is rampant in the prison setting because of several issues that build upon each other. The most devastating problem, as mentioned before, is overcrowding. A report on the prison conditions in Tanzania stated that the country's capacity level of 27,600 prisoners has 12,300 more detainees in the prison system.<ref>http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/daily-reports/2009/april/29/dr00058252.aspx?referrer=search</ref> In South Africa, the provincial deputy director of health services in the Department of Correctional Services, King Kumalo, reported, "In a cell [that is] supposed to hold twenty inmates, you might find up to eighty inmates." This occurs despite the urgings from departments within the United Nations to ensure that one cell is given per individual for sleeping accommodations. | + | The spreading of HIV is rampant in the prison setting because of several issues that build upon each other. The most devastating problem, as mentioned before, is overcrowding. A report on the prison conditions in Tanzania stated that the country's capacity level of 27,600 prisoners has 12,300 more detainees in the prison system.<ref>http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/daily-reports/2009/april/29/dr00058252.aspx?referrer=search</ref> In South Africa, the provincial deputy director of health services in the Department of Correctional Services, King Kumalo, reported, "In a cell [that is] supposed to hold twenty inmates, you might find up to eighty inmates."<ref>http://allafrica.com/stories/201009020033.html </ref> This occurs despite the urgings from departments within the United Nations to ensure that one cell is given per individual for sleeping accommodations.<ref>http://www.unodc.org/pdf/compendium/compendium_2006_part_01_01.pdf </ref> |
| − | Perhaps the most appalling fact is that the amount of HIV positive prisoners is unknown in such congested environments. Russia could have a total of HIV cases between 700,000 or 1.5 million yet only 235,000 cases have been officially reported. These numbers are quickly amplified when many penitentiaries are over 200% filled. | + | Perhaps the most appalling fact is that the amount of HIV positive prisoners is unknown in such congested environments. Russia could have a total of HIV cases between 700,000 or 1.5 million yet only 235,000 cases have been officially reported. These numbers are quickly amplified when many penitentiaries are over 200% filled.<ref>http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/daily-reports/2003/july/24/dr00018991.aspx?referrer=search</ref> |
| − | The negligence that is inevitable when prisons are over capacity causes many more serious issues such as vast food deprivation and extreme hunger. Many times, if the HIV positive prisoners are fortunate enough to have access to medications, they have major difficulties taking their medicine because of their malnourishment. The immense lack of sustenance also leads prisoners to resort to desperate acts such as exchanging sexual acts for food. | + | The negligence that is inevitable when prisons are over capacity causes many more serious issues such as vast food deprivation and extreme hunger. Many times, if the HIV positive prisoners are fortunate enough to have access to medications, they have major difficulties taking their medicine because of their malnourishment.<ref>http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/23/hiv-and-tb-prison-crisis-southern-africa</ref> The immense lack of sustenance also leads prisoners to resort to desperate acts such as exchanging sexual acts for food. |
| − | The lack of medical care and supplies is a major detriment caused by overcrowding. In many prisons, medical aid is not readily available. In fact, according to a 2008 Human Rights Report, Tanzania has no active programs focused to aid the 9.2% of prisoners that are HIV positive. Moreover, the access to and spread of information and education is poor resulting in the seldom, and even refused, distribution of condoms in prisons because of the belief that it will encourage homosexuality. | + | The lack of medical care and supplies is a major detriment caused by overcrowding. In many prisons, medical aid is not readily available. In fact, according to a 2008 Human Rights Report, Tanzania has no active programs focused to aid the 9.2% of prisoners that are HIV positive.<ref>http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/daily-reports/2009/april/29/dr00058252.aspx?referrer=search</ref> Moreover, the access to and spread of information and education is poor resulting in the seldom, and even refused, distribution of condoms in prisons because of the belief that it will encourage homosexuality.<ref>http://www.plusnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?ReportId=71089&IndepthId=48<Ref> |
| − | Overcrowding also lessens the amount of protection and supervision that should be given to each prisoner. This leads to unnoticed violence, the taking of intravenous drugs, as well as a lack of protection for the most vulnerable victims which often result in rape. The deficiency of protection in prisons is so extreme that "prostitution rings" have been reported of being in practice, "in which guards are involved in smuggling juveniles into the adult blocks, sometimes for as little as 30 US cents." The fact that juveniles are rarely separated from the adults in overcrowded prisons augments this practice immensely. | + | |
| + | Overcrowding also lessens the amount of protection and supervision that should be given to each prisoner. This leads to unnoticed violence, the taking of intravenous drugs, as well as a lack of protection for the most vulnerable victims which often result in rape.<ref>http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/hiv-aids/prison-settings.html?ref=menuside</ref> The deficiency of protection in prisons is so extreme that "prostitution rings" have been reported of being in practice, "in which guards are involved in smuggling juveniles into the adult blocks, sometimes for as little as 30 US cents."<ref>http://www.plusnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?ReportId=71089&IndepthId=48</ref> The fact that juveniles are rarely separated from the adults in overcrowded prisons augments this practice immensely.<ref>http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/6BD7C651-11A0-46CB-AAC5-2BE2C3485551/0/transmissionprisonen.pdf</ref> | ||
== International Rights == | == International Rights == | ||
