Prison HIV nears African rates: advocates

The HIV infection rates in federal prisons rivals that of many African countries, advocates of needle exchanges said Wednesday.

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network pointed to a Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) report released earlier this month that showed the rate of HIV infection in federal prisons is 15 times higher than among non-incarcerated Canadians, and the prevalence rate "rivals those of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa."

The hepatitis C infection rate in federal prisons was 31 per cent, 39 times greater than for the general population, the network said.

"About half the prisoners surveyed reported sharing used needles or syringes to inject drugs, and about one third reported sharing a needle with someone who has HIV, hepatitis C or unknown infection status," Sandra Ka Hon Chu, senior policy analyst at the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, said in a release.

"This clearly poses a risk of HIV or hepatitis C transmission, a risk that could be remedied with prison-based needle and syringe programs."

The group also pointed to lack of continuity in antiviral medications, which could lead to resistance to the medications.

Greg Simmons, prisoners' representative for the Canadian Treatment Action Council, called for the CSC to allow prisoners to retrieve their medications once incarcerated and change the way pharmacies in federal prisons monitor and order medications.

The CSC's report was based on a self-administered questionnaire to 3,370 inmates in 2007 who were asked about infectious disease and high-risk behaviour such as use of injection drugs and engaging in unprotected sex.