HIV prevention outreach program for Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) incarcerated population in San Francisco County jails

Background: The number of APIs who are incarcerated in San Francisco County Jails has been rapidly growing in recent years. However, culturally specific HIV prevention education and outreach programs have never been conducted for API inmates. Methods: Health Educators recruited 114 API inmates into the HIV prevention program while conducting outreach at local jails over the past two years. Health Educators conducted intake and 6-month follow-up risk assessment interviews with participants and provided health information and referral services. Results: The majority of participants were male (84%); over half were foreign-born and had been living in the U.S for 22 years on average. The three largest ethnic groups among the participants were Filipino (22%), Chinese (20%), and Vietnamese (10%). Condom use in the past six months was rarely reported: with a steady partner, 71% never used condoms during vaginal sex, 79% during oral sex, and 62% during anal sex; with casual partners, 64% inconsistently used condoms during vaginal sex, 79% during oral sex, and 75% during anal sex. One forth of participants had never been tested for HIV. The majority had used drugs: marijuana (85%), cocaine (89%), and Methamphetamines (53%). In the past 30 days, participants expressed psychological problems, such as anxiety (21%), troubles of understanding/concentrating/remembering (14%), and depression (13%). Conclusions: API inmates are engaging in high risk sexual behaviors; however, they have been underserved. Culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach and education programs, targeting API inmates are urgently needed to prevent HIV/AIDS infections and to reduce mental health issues.