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HIV-Infected Prison Inmates: Depression and Implications for Release Back to Communities

AIDS and Behavior volume 14, pages 300–307 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

High rates of both HIV and depression are seen in prison populations; depression has been linked to disease progression in HIV, risky behaviors, and medication non-adherence. Despite this, few studies have examined HIV-infected inmates with depression. We therefore conducted an exploratory study of a sample of HIV-infected inmates in North Carolina prisons (N = 101) to determine what proportion of this sample screened positive for depression and whether depression was associated with different pre-incarceration characteristics or post-release needs. A high proportion of HIV infected inmates (44.5%) screened positive for depression. Depressed inmates were significantly more likely have low coping self-efficacy scores (180 vs. 214), to report having had resource needs (OR = 2.91) prior to incarceration and to anticipate needing income (OR = 2.81), housing (OR = 4.07), transportation (OR = 9.15), and assistance with adherence (OR = 8.67) post-release. We conclude by discussion the implications of our findings for prison based care and effective prison release planning for HIV infected inmates.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the US National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse and by the University of North Carolina Center For AIDS Research.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Anna Scheyett, Sharon Parker & Carrie Pettus Davis

  2. School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Carol Golin

  3. School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Becky White & David Wohl

Authors
  1. Anna Scheyett
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  2. Sharon Parker
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  3. Carol Golin
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  4. Becky White
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  5. Carrie Pettus Davis
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  6. David Wohl
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Correspondence to Anna Scheyett.

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Scheyett, A., Parker, S., Golin, C. et al. HIV-Infected Prison Inmates: Depression and Implications for Release Back to Communities. AIDS Behav 14, 300–307 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9443-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9443-8

Keywords

  • HIV
  • Prison
  • Depression
  • Reentry
  • Criminal justice
  • Coping self-efficacy