HIV in prison in low income countries

HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) are a major public health issue in correctional institutions and the communities in which they are situated, owing to the high prevalence of both infections and the frequency of at-risk behaviors [1]. However, relevant data are limited and difficult to collect, particularly in low-income countries [2-5]. Many countries do not have prison HIV surveillance systems or are reluctant to release available data. As a result, prisons have been largely neglected in the global response to the HIV pandemic. Very few countries provide detainees with access to voluntary counseling and testing, condoms, care and treatment [6].