Female Drug Offenders: HIV-Related Risk Behavior, Self-Perceptions and Public Health Implications

Abstract

One-third of women entering U.S. prisons between 1986 and 1991 were drug offenders (Bureau of Justice Statistics 1993). In turn, between 1991 and 1995, the number of HIV-positive prisoners grew at about the same rate (38%) as the overall prison population (36%) (BJS 1997). This paper describes 188 drug-offending females upon admission to a state prison, with an emphasis on their self-reported HIV-related behavioral histories. We analyze the self-reported health histories, drug and sexual high-risk behaviors, and self-perceptions of risk of these women. We also examine their attitudes toward drugs and alcohol as a personal problem and toward treatment, as compared to property and violent offenders. We find that drug-offending females have histories of multiple HIV/AIDS-related risk behaviors, yet perceive their HIV infection risk as low. Unlike women incarcerated for property or violent offenses, a significant propor tion of drug offenders with personal drug and alcohol problems is interested in participating in substance abuse treatment. These findings support our contention that correctional administrators have a narrow, yet critical, window of opportunity to provide drug and alcohol treatment, AIDS education, and self-efficacy training to these women during their few years of incarceration.