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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Heather Batson and Jennifer L. Lauby, PhD. Research and Evaluation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 S. Broad St, Suite 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 2159852500, heather@phmc.org

Background: It is well-established that the incarcerated population has elevated HIV/AIDS prevalence compared to the general population. However, the behavior of formerly incarcerated persons, especially formerly incarcerated men, upon return to their communities is poorly understood; an understanding of this is needed to better grasp the nature of the urban HIV epidemic in the US.

Methods: Adults who had elevated risk for HIV infection (defined by: lifetime injection drug use, sex with HIV positive partners, or sex with IVDU partners; or past-year multiple sex partners) were recruited and interviewed at community locations. This analysis is restricted to men (N=886) and compares the heterosexual behavioral risks of men who were and were not incarcerated in the past 5 years.

Results: Recently incarcerated men from this multiethnic, majority Black (74%) sample, of whom a significant minority (40%) had been incarcerated in the past 5 years, indicates that recently incarcerated men were more likely to report heterosexual HIV risk that their non-incarcerated peers. The influence of a recent incarceration remained when controlling for age and SES factors, men who had been in jail were more likely to report trading sex with a woman (OR=1.775, p=.003); drug use during sex(OR=1.398, p=.042); and were less likely to report using a condom at last sex with a non-main female partner (OR=.568, p=.002).

Conclusions: The experience of incarceration may continue to influence men's live after they return to the community. This is true for private sexual behaviors as it is for difficulties around finding employment and housing.

Learning Objectives: After attending this session, participants will be able to

• Describe disparities in men’s heterosexual sexual behaviors that put recently incarcerated men at increased risk for HIV transmission compared to their non-incarcerated peers;
• Identify additional disparities in men’s lives after incarceration that may add additional stressors to their lives;
• Identify areas where HIV-prevention interventions are indicated for men re-entering the community.

Keywords: Incarceration, Sexual Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation