Harm reduction interventions to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission in involuntary detainees

Abstract

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: 1. To locate and describe outcome studies evaluating the effectiveness of interventions designed to prevent transmission of HIV among involuntary detainees. 2. To summarise the effectiveness of these interventions, including whether outcomes are different depending on the type of institution, prisoner gender, and prisoner age. 3. To identify gaps and indicate future research, policy, and programme needs. The objectives of this review are to compare the effectiveness of interventions (medical and behavioural) designed to prevent transmission of HIV among involuntary detainees, inclusive of prisoners, those involuntarily detained in half‐way homes, etc. Subjects should be mentally healthy. Medical intervention could constitute methadone maintenance programmes or other medications. Behavioural interventions could include various types of educational programmes and behavioural models. Subgroup analysis: Subgroup analysis will be done for type of institution (such as prisons, half way homes, etc.); gender (male, female, and transgender); age (adolescents vs. adults) and type of intervention (medical vs. behavioural; one‐to‐one intervention vs. group intervention).