Theme: Epidemiology & Public Health Research Year: 2024
Background: In order to provide a response to the absence of adapted proposals from the prison system for the prevention and treatment of HIV and hepatitis, the Association Paroles Autour de la Santé carried out this study whose objective was to evaluate the level of exposure of PUDs to HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C contamination in Mali prisons.
Methods: The study relies on a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches. The survey was carried out from May to December 2022 among 385 people who inject drugs (men, women) and 36 prison staff in eight (8) prisons in Mali.
Results: The results show that the use of intravenous consumption was 47.1%. This practice is more widespread in the capital (64.9%) than in the region (23.9%). The sharing of injection equipment was mainly reported among 93.1% of injectors. Reuse of used syringes represented 31.7%. 68.3% never disinfect injection equipment before and after use, 79.7% of these were in Bamako prisons. 16.4% report having had sexual relations while incarcerated. Positive PUDs are respectively 4.1% for HIV and 7.2% for hepatitis. Homosexual relations represented 11.1% compared to 38.0% for heterosexual relations. 28.7% say they have never used condoms. Risky sexual practices (Chemsex) and the sharing of sexual objects accentuate the vulnerability of women.
Conclusions: This result supports the estimate of drug consumption in the prison environment and the risks associated with HIV, HBV, HCV and TB infection. They call for the establishment of specific programs for incarcerated PUDs, drawing on the experiences of certain countries.