Absence of HIV infection in an Indian prison [letter]

Restricted environmental exposure is an essential feature of prison life which may give rise to situational homosexual behavior because of heterosexual deprivation. Hence prisons may be an ideal setting for the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In many countries AIDS in prisons is a focus of concern with respect to the problem of determining who is infected and the need to control HIV infection in prisons In India there is comparatively little information on the prevalence of antibody to HIV among prisoners. Therefore screening was offered to prisoners on a voluntary basis. Serum samples were collected from 128 male prisoners from Yerwada prison in Pune India. Those prisoners who had a longer period of confinement were preferred i.e. 47 of the prisoners were incarcerated for 5 years. The majority (76.5%) of these prisoners were young men in the age group of 20-35 years. All the prisoners denied a history of homosexuality and/or the use of IV drugs. The serum samples were tested for antibodies to HIV by ELISA using Wellcozyme kit. None of the prisoners had antibodies to HIV. These results are not surprising because a study in the USA has suggested that prisoners with AIDS are most likely to be infected prior to incarceration; and in India the prevalence of HIV in the general population is low. However there is no reason to doubt that transmission in confinement may occur when prevalence in the general population rises. Therefore education of prisoners regarding AIDS should be taken up as prisons provide an opportunity to inform and educate a large number of persons who may have engaged or may be likely to engage in HIV high risk behavior. (full text) (references included in original document).