Sexual networking, STDs and HIV/AIDS in four urban gaols in Nigeria

Recent evidence indicates that the prison population is at great risk of contracting HIV. By late 1992 HIV-seropositive prisoners had been detected in at least one of the prisons in Nigeria and there was beginning to be concern for the safety of the prison population. 518 male prisoners in four prisons in two major cities and two towns in southwestern Nigeria participated in a study conducted during late 1992 to investigate the prevailing attitudes and activities likely to facilitate the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV and to develop an intervention program for the prison population. Sociocultural characteristics of the respondents are presented. Slightly more than half were married and the majority were aged 20-29 years. 10.8-30.0% were professionals and only 2.5-15.2% were unemployed before being incarcerated. The majority of prisoners were serving terms ranging between six months and five years while 17-30% were awaiting trial for their offenses. Almost all were sexually experienced upon entering prison with 2.1-8.4% having had their first sexual intercourse before age 10 years. Except in one of the prisons 50-66% reported having at least one current sex partner. That all the prisoners were males and males and females are separated during incarceration suggests the existence of widespread homosexual intercourse among these prisoners. The prisoners reported having a considerable number and variety of sex partners prior to incarceration. 27.6-38.5% had had sex with prostitutes. 27.5-39.3% reported ever having contracted a STD mainly gonorrhea. 65-77% had heard of AIDS. 5% of blood samples taken in one of the prisons are suspected of being infected with HIV. There is an urgent need to improve prison living conditions especially overcrowding which may facilitate the spread of STDs and AIDS.