Russia’s HIV epidemic is exploding. Of infections reported by Russia’s Ministry of Health, 65% were registered in 2000. Over 90% are attributed to injecting drug use; prisoners are approx.15% of registered infections. Over 1 million people are incarcerated in Russian prisons but limited data existed about prisoner risk behaviors. To support the development of prison HIV prevention mechanisms and to measure their effectiveness, MSF conducted independent research on prisoner risk behaviors with full support of the Russian prison administration.
Over 1100 male and female prisoners, juveniles and adults, in eleven facilities in four regions were surveyed during summer 2000. A written Russian-language questionnaire obtained quantitative data about sex, drug and tattoo risks in Russian prisons.
Results: - 9% prisoners had penetrative sex in current prison; of them, 89% without condoms; - 21% of all prisoners used a condom the last time they had sex, inside or outside prison; - 43% prisoners have ever injected a drug in their lives; - Of ever-injectors, 21% injected in current prison (prison IDU); - Of prison IDUs, 13% began injecting in prison, 26% injected in past four weeks, and over 65% reported passing on and/or taking used injecting equipment; - 25% prisoners had a tattoo made in prison; of them, 68% with used needles.
Despite limitations of self-report written data from current prisoners, there is strong evidence that risks exist in Russian prisons. These data conservatively describe the nature of such risks and prisoners undertaking them, and inform development of targeted prevention mechanisms.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe HIV risk research conducted by MSF in the Russian prison system. 2. Report key findings of this risk research. 3. Discuss implications of these finding for prevention programming and future research.
Keywords: Prison, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Medecins Sans Frontieres (Holland) - Moscow Office
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.