HIV Prevention Care and Treatment in Prisons in South-East Asia

The aim of this review was to gather information relating to HIV prevention, care and treatment in prisons in the WHO South-East Asia Region. Countries selected for inclusion in the review were India, Indonesia, Nepal and Thailand.

South-East Asia is second only to sub-Saharan Africa in terms of estimated numbers of people living with HIV. South-East Asia has also been home to some stunning successes in scaling up HIV prevention, care and treatment interventions. However, the role of HIV transmission in prisons as a key factor for the spread of HIV in the community has largely been ignored. Prisoners are often seen as less deserving of health care or other assistance, particularly when resources are scarce. Yet it must be remembered that prisoners are only temporarily removed from the general community. At some stage, most prisoners will be released and resume living in the community. When prisoners are released, so too are their infections and illnesses.