How to Prevent the Spread of TB and HIV in Jails

Prison

As the CDC reports, of the 2 million people jailed in the U.S., more than 20,000 inmates have HIV (HIV among Incarcerated Populations, 2015). The rate of incidence is 5x higher for persons in jail than it is for persons not in jail. And over 90% of those infected in prisons are men. Thus, HIV in prisons in America is a serious issue and it is largely due to sex and intravaneous drug use in prisons that causes it spread. That, and the fact that the men are confined together for long periods, so that their likelihood of spreading the disease among each other is increased exponentially, shows that it is no surprise that HIV has a high incidence rate among prisoners. Also, prisoners are typically there for a reason (unless they are wrongfully convicted), indicating that they may already have problems with drug abuse or sexual abuse and thus are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that could spread the disease too.

In Australia, the same holds true, as there is no real regional or ethnic difference between the nature of the prison environments. In Australian prisons, however, AIDS recommendations consist of segregating prisoners with HIV / AIDS from others (this recommendation has become increasingly loud following the attack on a prison officer). Segregation of AIDS prisoners from others, accepting only volunteers with a history of intravenous drug use, as is custom in other parts of the world is therefore one recommendation. Another is education and the proliferation of literature on the subject of AIDS and how it is communicated. A third is the dissemination of prophylactics among prisoners (Kirby, 1991).

Tuberculosis in correctional facilities is also an issue that should be addressed and that can be addressed through diagnosis and treatment. As TB is a communicable disease that can be spread through the air, it is highly contagious and thus very important to be contained. However, in a correctional facility, contagiousness is highly risky. Because of the tight-knit population in a correctional facility, TB is something that prisoners are at higher risk of catching than other populations. Close living spaces are a major risk factor in such places. Approximately 4 to 5% of all TB cases occur in prisons. The best way to address this issue is to screen for TB in prisoners as they enter the facility. This would essentially serve to catch it at the door and keep it from spreading and causing more problems for everyone else.