Healthcare and antiretroviral treatment in HIV-infected detained persons at the penitentiary units

Abstract

Summary There has been an increase rate of HIV prevalence among prison population in Poland. The prevalence of HIV infection in Polish prisons is 1,54 percent out of detained population. Total number of HIV/AIDS was 1145 prisoners in 2007, and 81 new cases was detected during imprisoning. HIV-positive injection drug users (IDU's) are a special category of patients whose access to treatment is limited by economic and addiction barriers, out of the prison walls. Recent studies in Central and Eastern Europe show that even with the wide availability of antiretroviral (ARV) medications, only 40 percent of IDU's received HAART. The situation is more alarming in Russia and other fSU, where less than 1 percent of HIV-positive drug users receiving ARV treatment. In Poland HIV-infected prisoners have been regularly monitored on the specialist visits, and they could voluntarily opt out of HIV tested, as well as HCV, HBV, syphilis, etc. Design of antiretroviral regimen in prison can be arrange precisely for long-term period. Directly administrated antiretroviral therapy is the best method for non-adherent patients, especially for IDU's in prison.