HIV Vulnerabilities and Risk Perception of Justice-Involved Women

Abstract

Women with histories of justice involvement are not only more likely to enter prison with a diagnosis of HIV infection, but also are up to 15 times more likely to be HIV positive than women in the general U.S. population. Given the growing prevalence of both women affected by HIV and women in the criminal justice system, an urgent need exists for prevention interventions tailored for justice-involved women. This formative qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews to examine formerly incarcerated women’s perspectives on their HIV risks and behaviors. Findings inform future HIV-risk reduction interventions for justice-involved women.

Keywords

• HIV/AIDS risk
• HIV prevention
• incarceration
• women
• criminal justice
• ex-offenders