Incarceration and HIV Testing in Boston's Drug Users
Author Information
Author(s): Bovell-Ammon Benjamin J., Onofrey Shauna, Kimmel Simeon D., Wurcel Alysse G., Klevens Monina
Hypothesis
Does a history of incarceration influence HIV testing rates among people who inject drugs in the Boston metro area?
Conclusion
Incarceration is a common experience among people who inject drugs and serves as a significant source of HIV testing, but more testing is needed.
Supporting Evidence
- 43.5% of participants reported past-year incarceration.
- 41.8% reported a history of incarceration prior to the past year.
- 23.4% of those with past-year incarceration had their last HIV test done at a jail or prison.
- Past-year incarceration was associated with a greater prevalence of past-year HIV testing.
Takeaway
People who use drugs and have been in jail are more likely to get tested for HIV, but we still need to help more people get tested.
Methodology
Secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance.
Participant Demographics
Average age 38.9 years, 70.1% male, 15.2% Hispanic, 8.4% non-Hispanic Black, 68.1% non-Hispanic White.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.29, 1.49
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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