HIV risk behaviour of IDUs before, during and after imprisonment in New South Wales

Objectives: To assess risk behaviours of HIV infected and HIV negative Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) in and out of prison in New South Wales in a case control study. Methods: 25 (20 M, 5 F) cases and 160 (135 M, 25 F) controls were recruited in 1993. HIV status was determined by testing dried blood spots. Results: Cases and controls were similar on basic demographic characteristics. Reports of injecting by cases and controls were more common before entry (84%, 90%) and after prison discharge (60%, 80%) than during incarceration (44%, 44%). However, reported syringe sharing was more common during imprisonment (64%, 71%) than before entry (19%, 24%) and after prison discharge (20%, 15%). Male cases were significantly more likely to use condoms outside prison (44% vs 7%) bur also to be sexually active in prison (60%, 6%) than male controls. Conclusions: This study indicates the potential for HIV transmission among IDUs in prison and following release. To prevent HIV transmission in prisons, prison methadone programs, provision of condoms and evaluation of a pilot needle and syringe exchange scheme need to be considered.