Difference between revisions of "HIV in Prison"

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== Background ==
 
== Background ==
 
   
 
   
Prisons have often been described as "incubators of disease." Several factors contribute to this description, especially in Africa and Central America, such as overcrowding, lack of medical supplies and lack of protection provided to the inmates.<ref>http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146828.php</ref>  HIV is one of the diseases that thrives in the environment of a neglected prison and legal system.<ref>http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/focus/criminal_justice/articles_publications/articles/pretrialdetention_20081201PretrialDetention:Scale_and_Relevance_to_HIV/AIDS,_CanadianHIVAIDS_Policy_&_Law_Review/Author:Denise_Tomasini-Joshi/Date:December1,2008</ref>  In many cases, incoming prisoners are already HIV positive due to living in poverty and devastation, conditions that often lead to criminal behavior and sexual activities that could result in procuring HIV.<ref>http://www.plusnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?ReportId=71089&IndepthId=48</ref>  Holding pretrial detainees for prolonged periods of time in the same area as those already convicted is an effect of perpetual overcrowding that often exacerbates the spread of HIV.<ref>http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/index.htm</ref>  Overcrowding is a real problem, as sixty percent of all countries have admitted that their prisons are over capacity.<ref>http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/98919.html</ref>  Moreover, international data has shown that the prevalence of HIV is six to fifty times higher in prisons than that of the general population.<ref>HIV and Prisons in sub Saharan Africa.: Opportunities for Action.  http://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-aids/Africa%20HIV_Prison_Paper_Oct-23-07-en.pdf</ref>  For those who are already infected before imprisonment have a higher risk of dying from HIV or HIV-related diseases in prison due to the lack of medical care.  
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Prisons have often been described as "incubators of disease." Several factors contribute to this description, especially in Africa and Central America, including overcrowding, lack of medical supplies and lack of protection provided to the inmates.<ref>http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146828.php</ref>  HIV is one of the diseases that thrives in the environment of a neglected prison and legal system.<ref>http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/focus/criminal_justice/articles_publications/articles/pretrialdetention_20081201PretrialDetention:Scale_and_Relevance_to_HIV/AIDS,_CanadianHIVAIDS_Policy_&_Law_Review/Author:Denise_Tomasini-Joshi/Date:December1,2008</ref>  In many cases, incoming prisoners are already HIV positive due to living in poverty and devastation, conditions that often lead to criminal behavior and sexual activities that could result in procuring HIV.<ref>http://www.plusnews.org/IndepthMain.aspx?ReportId=71089&IndepthId=48</ref>  Holding pretrial detainees for prolonged periods of time in the same area as those already convicted is an effect of perpetual overcrowding that often exacerbates the spread of HIV.<ref>http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/index.htm</ref>  Overcrowding is a real problem, as sixty percent of all countries have admitted that their prisons are over capacity.<ref>http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/98919.html</ref>  Moreover, international data has shown that the prevalence of HIV is six to fifty times higher in prisons than that of the general population.<ref>HIV and Prisons in sub Saharan Africa.: Opportunities for Action.  http://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-aids/Africa%20HIV_Prison_Paper_Oct-23-07-en.pdf</ref>  For those who are already infected before imprisonment have a higher risk of dying from HIV or HIV-related diseases in prison due to the lack of medical care.  
 
 
 
Another major cause for concern is the potential of the spreading of HIV within the wider community. There are approximately thirty million prisoners who are imprisoned and freed every year.<ref>http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/98919.html</ref>  Inevitably, a large amount of these released detainees are HIV positive, leading to the potential of spreading the disease throughout the community. When reviewing all of the deficiencies that result in HIV, such as education, protection and medical care, it becomes evident that the spreading of HIV is not only a health issue but has become a human rights issue as well.
 
Another major cause for concern is the potential of the spreading of HIV within the wider community. There are approximately thirty million prisoners who are imprisoned and freed every year.<ref>http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/detail/98919.html</ref>  Inevitably, a large amount of these released detainees are HIV positive, leading to the potential of spreading the disease throughout the community. When reviewing all of the deficiencies that result in HIV, such as education, protection and medical care, it becomes evident that the spreading of HIV is not only a health issue but has become a human rights issue as well.

Revision as of 13:55, 1 October 2010