Former Prisoners’ Views on Mandatory HIV Testing During Incarceration

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess former prisoners' views on mandatory HIV testing during their incarceration in the Rhode Island state prison system. The survey was administered at a methadone maintenance clinic and a health center for HIV positive individuals. Of the 130 individuals (54 men and 76 women), 50 percent were HIV positive. One hundred out of the 130 (77%) felt that HIV testing should be mandatory in prison. Opinion in favor of mandatory testing did not vary according to HIV status (p=0.275), gender (p=0.875), or race (p=0.964). The four most common reasons prisoners cited for supporting mandatory testing were: it enhanced early access to appropriate medical care, it enabled them to plan better for the future, it allowed them to alert at-risk partners, and it encouraged HIV positive individuals to modify their behavior to lessen chances of spreading the disease during sexual activity. In conclusion, the majority of former prisoners approved of mandatory HIV testing during incarceration in a prison setting in which comprehensive HIV care and community follow-up were offered.