Women’s health in prisons in Africa: prevalence and challenges to address HIV among women in prison in Africa

Abstract

Abstract In Africa around 3.2% of the prison population is represented by women. People in prison are 5 times more likely to be living with HIV than adults in the general population. Moreover, women in prison have a higher HIV prevalence than men. The factors that lead to women becoming incarcerated are often also those that lead to their increased risk of acquiring HIV infection. Their situation in prison is exacerbated by stigma and discrimination, gender-based violence and inequality. Women have limited access to health care in prison settings and are less likely to receive treatment than men. This is even more the case in Africa, where the precarious and sometimes inhuman prison conditions, render the health-related interventions addressing women health particularly challenging. Their specific health care needs, such as sexual and reproductive health care, treatment of infectious diseases including STIs, as well as nutrition and hygiene requirements, are often neglected. The limited access for women (and their children) to ante- and postnatal care, labour and delivery services and antiretroviral therapy also leads to infants born in prisons being at high risk of contracting HIV. Women in prison should be able to access gender-responsive health care services which are equivalent and of the same quality as those available in the community. The presentation will present the latest available data on health status and HIV in particular among women in prison in Africa and will present the international standards in health interventions of women in prison.