Impact of Incarceration Experiences on Reported HIV Status & Associated Risk Behaviours & Disease Comorbidities

The Russian human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic among people who inject drugs (PWID) originated in Kaliningrad, but research into risk behaviours among PWID has been lacking. The potential for heterosexual spread has not been analysed.

A sample of PWID was accrued using two methods. A questionnaire was administered to assess HIV-related risk behaviours for parenteral and sexual transmission, sociodemographic factors, HIV knowledge and attitudes about sexual risks. Data were analysed focusing on the role of imprisonment, factors associated with awareness of being HIV infected and condom use.

• More than a quarter of the sample reported having been diagnosed with HIV infection, with higher prevalence among women and those with a history of incarceration. 
• More than half reported having been diagnosed with hepatitis C virus infection. 
• Those reporting being HIV positive were less likely to distribute used syringes to other PWID 
• and more likely to have used a condom the last time they had sex. 
• A history of incarceration was associated with higher rates of receptive syringe sharing among those not having ever received an HIV-positive diagnosis 
• and a lower likelihood of believing that condoms are needed when having sex with a casual partner.

Although extensive HIV testing has alerted many PWID to their HIV-positive status, which is associated with less distributive syringe sharing and higher likelihood of condom use, substantial risk for parenteral and especially sexual HIV transmission remains. 

More active prevention programs will be required to control the heterosexual spread of HIV.

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By:  Heimer R1, Levina OS2, Osipenko V3, Ruiz MS4, Sergeyev B5, Sirotkin AV6, Vyshemirskaya I3.

• 11 Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases and the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
• 22 NGO Stellit, St. Petersburg, RF.
• 33 NGO "Young Leaders' Army", Kaliningrad, RF.
• 44 Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milkin Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
• 55 Office of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Kaliningrad, RF.
• 66 International Laboratory for Applied Network Research, National Research University Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg, RF.