Citation

Stewart EC. Howard J. Crim. Just. 2007; 46(1): 43-59.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Howard League for Penal Reform, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-2311.2007.00453.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health problem in the United Kingdom (UK) and the limited data available may suggest high prevalence rates (especially of HIV, hepatitis B and C) in the escalating male prison population. Sex, rape and injecting drug use are a part of prison life, yet screening for STIs does not routinely take place and there are inconsistencies in the availability of condoms and other harm-reduction devices. Numerous characteristics of male prisoners (for example, social disadvantage, drug dependency, younger age, black ethnic origin, on remand), their offences (drug, sex, violent) and overcrowded prisons (for example, sharing cells, staff shortages, enforced idleness, transfers) are also considered ‘high risk’ from a sexual health perspective, especially the spread of STIs between prisoners and into the wider population when they are released. There is, therefore, an urgent need for research so that sexual health information and HIV/STI prevention initiatives can be successfully targeted.