Sexually Transmitted Infections in Male Prison Inmates: Risk of Development of New Diseases

OBJECTIVE:

To measure incidence and main risk factors related to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Daroca Prison (Zaragoza, Spain).

METHOD:

A retrospective cohort study (2005-2013) to measure the incidence of STI and a cross-sectional study to measure risk factors.

RESULTS:

Of the 203 inmates, 79 developed an STI, 37 had a previous STI, 55.2% lacked knowledge on STI prevention, and 28.9% showed behaviours unfavourable for STI prevention. The incidence rate was 6.5 STIs per 1,000 inmates-year. The most frequent STIs were hepatitis B (39.7%), Ureaplasma urealyticum (19.1%), herpes simplex (16.2%) and HIV (8.8%). The risk (hazard ratio, HR) of acquiring a new STI was significantly higher in inmates with a history of previous STI (HR=2.61; 95%CI: 1.01 to 6.69), and was at the limit of significance for non-preventive behaviour (HR=2.10; 95%CI: 0.98 to 4.53), but not in knowledge related to STIs (HR=1.33; 95%CI: 0.58 to 3.07).

CONCLUSION:

The most important risk factors in prison are behaviours related to STIs and previous history of STIs. Other factors are being a repeat offender, injecting drug use, or being in a methadone programme. Health personnel and peer education can facilitate prevention and control.

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By:  Sánchez Recio R1, Alonso Pérez de Ágreda JP2, Santabárbara Serrano J2.

• 1Centro Penitenciario de Daroca, Secretaría General de Instituciones Penitenciarias, Ministerio del Interior, Zaragoza, España. Electronic address: rsanchezrecio.1979@gmail.com.
• 2Departamento de Microbiología, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, España
• Gac Sanit. 2016 Mar 14. pii: S0213-9111(16)00019-4. doi: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2016.01.010.

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