HIV transmission behaviors in jail/prison among Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York and Puerto Rico

Sung Yeon Kang, Sherry Deren, Jonny Andia, Hector M. Colón, Rafaela Robles, Denise Oliver-Velez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examined HIV risk behavior in jail/prison among Puerto Rican drug injectors in New York (NY, n = 300) and Puerto Rico (PR, n = 200), and its relationship with later drug and sex risk behaviors. During 3 years prior to interview, 66% of NY and 43% of PR samples were incarcerated at least once. While incarcerated, 5% of NY and 53% of PR injected drugs. Few reported engaging in sex inside jail/prison (5% in both sites). Of those who engaged in risk behaviors in jail/prison, almost all reported having unprotected sex and sharing injection equipment. The impact of jail/prison risk behaviors on risk behaviors after release differed between the two sites: they were more related to subsequent sex risk behaviors in NY, and subsequent injection risk behaviors in PR. The findings indicate a need for effective drug treatment programs inside jail/prisons to reduce HIV-related risk behaviors among drug injectors during incarceration and after release.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)377-386
Number of pages10
JournalAIDS and Behavior
Volume9
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005

Keywords

  • HIV risk behaviors in jail/prison
  • Puerto Rican drug injectors
  • Risk behaviors after release

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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