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https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/11779
Title: | Alternatives to Current HIV/AIDS Policies and Practices in South African Prisons | Contributor(s): | Goyer, KC (author); Gow, Jeffrey (author) | Publication Date: | 2002 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/11779 | Abstract: | Prisoners in South Africa face problems of overcrowding, violence and poor nutrition. Added to this burden in recent times is the increased threat from HIV. The HIV epidemic has been relatively late in coming to South Africa but infection rates are now 20% in the adult population. However, there is no data available on the level of HIV infection in the prison population. Overseas studies suggest that the characteristics of prisoners place them at much greater risk of HIV infection. Factors which contribute to increased levels of HIV infection include poor health care facilities, lack of condoms and lack of disinfectants. Current policies and practices on HIV in prison attempt to balance the constraints of limited resources with the need to preserve prisoner human rights. The outcomes include: mass testing not freely available, HIV education is limited, and early release of prisoners with advanced AIDS is not allowed. Constraints on the implementation of effective HIV prevention strategies include: bureaucratic inefficiency, lack of resources, and a reluctance by prison authorities to address the issue of HIV in prison. These problems can possibly be overcome by addressing the issue from both management and prisoner perspectives. On the management side, increased resources, increased training of prison officials, and increased political commitment to address the issue are required. Outside partnerships are probably required for an effective response. Prisoners require better nutrition, better living conditions, better health care, freely available condoms and disinfectants. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Journal of Public Health Policy, 23(3), p. 307-323 | Publisher: | Palgrave Macmillan Ltd | Place of Publication: | United Kingdom | ISSN: | 1745-655X 0197-5897 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 140208 Health Economics | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 910302 Trade Assistance and Protection | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal | Publisher/associated links: | http://www.jstor.org/stable/3343227 |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
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