Risk of prevalent HIV infection associated with incarceration among injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand: case-control study

Abstract

Objectives: To identify risks for HIV infection related to incarceration among injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand. Design: Case-control study of sexual and parenteral exposures occurring before, during, and after the most recent incarceration. Setting: Metropolitan Bangkok. Participants: Non-prison based injecting drug users formerly incarcerated for at least six months in the previous five years, with documented HIV serostatus since their most recent release; 175 HIV positive cases and 172 HIV negative controls from methadone clinics. Main outcome measure: Injection of heroin and methamphetamine, sharing of needles, sexual behaviour, and tattooing before, during, and after incarceration. Results: In the month before incarceration cases were more likely than controls to have injected methamphetamine and to have borrowed needles. More cases than controls reported using drugs (60% v 45%; P=0.005) and sharing needles (50% v 31%; PConclusions: Injecting drug users in Bangkok are at significantly increased risk of HIV infection through sharing needles with multiple partners while in holding cells before incarceration. The time spent in holding cells is an important opportunity to provide risk reduction counselling and intervention to reduce the incidence of HIV. What is already known on this topic The incidence of HIV in Thailand is highest among injecting drug users in Bangkok Incarceration is a risk factor for incident HIV infection among Thai injecting drug users What this study adds Injecting drug users are at increased risk of HIV infection from sharing needles with multiple partners while in police holding cells before incarceration Other risk factors include injecting methamphetamine before imprisonment, being tattooed while imprisoned, and sharing needles after release