Legislation: The implementation of health policies in a female prison in Durban, South Africa

Abstract

abstract The Bill of Rights of the South African Constitution, Section 27 allows all citizens the right to health and medical treatment. The Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998 stipulates that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) provide adequate health care services to all prisoners so that they can lead a healthy life. In theory the DCS has a commitment to provide adequate healthcare and access to material that educates prisoners, including female prisoners, effectively about HIV and AIDS infection. In reality is this being realised? The research was based on the assumption that female prisoners have different levels of experiences, perceptions, and awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS. In most instances, avoidance or infection of such diseases is rooted in a complex set of issues. One of them is the mental state and educational level of female prisoners. Another factor influencing protection against STIs is their vulnerability to the conditions that they are faced with within the prison environment. A third factor is the extent to which female prisoners might have a proclivity towards unprotected sexual relationships with other female inmates within the prison. This Focus aims to discuss the complex set of issues as uncovered in a South African prison to identify the challenges that exist in the implementation of the law on health care within prisons. Focus group discussions were held with female inmates at Durban Female Centre in order to analyse their experiences and perceptions of HtV and AIDS and identify discrepancies in legislation and the implementation of health policies. Information on the knowledge and perceptions about HIV, the level and frequency of risk behaviours related to the transmission of HIV is important in identifying, understanding, and responding to the gender profile of HIV and AIDS. Part of the crisis of HIV is that it has exposed the gap between what we say and what actually happens, and this dissonance can cause the proliferation of the HIV epidemic.