HIV epidemiology and risk behavior promoting HIV transmission in Austrian prisons

In 1989, 1990 and 1992, 19%, 15% and 10%, respectively, of all prisoners newly admitted to prisons and penitentiary institutions in Austria underwent HIV antibody tests. Based on the HIV test outcome in prisons in which more than 80% of the newly admitted inmates were tested, annual HIV prevalences among prison inmates in Austria were determined. These were 0.5% (11/2,223), 1.3% (19/1,466) and 0.9% (14/1,509) in 1989, 1990 and 1992, respectively. The prevalence rates among prison inmates in Austria are thus 5 times higher than those in the general Austrian population. About 5% of all inmates belong to the high-risk group of intravenous drug users. Inquiries into HIV risk behavior among prison inmates showed that, in Austrian prisons just like in those of many other countries, intravenous drug use and sexual contacts are common practices. As disposable needles and condoms are not available to prison inmates, these practices carry a particularly high risk of HIV transmission. The data collected can be taken as a basis for developing strategies which are designed to reduce the risk of HIV transmission in prisons and which have a major bearing on the development of the HIV pandemic.