More than 100,000 New Yorkers are known to be living with HIV/AIDS.
Increasing HIV Testing on Riker's Island
According to data from the NYC Health Department, incarcerated populations in NYC have a significantly higher HIV prevalence rate than the general population, but many who are infected don't know their HIV status. Women incarcerated at Rikers Island have an HIV prevalence rate that is 14 times higher than the general NYC female population, and for the men incarcerated at Rikers Island, the prevalence rate is 2.6 times higher than for the general NYC male population.
A pilot project funded by a consortium of private foundations is testing a new approach to more accurately assess the prevalence of HIV in Rikers Island jails by offering HIV testing to inmates who refused HIV testing upon prison entry. The Robin Hood Foundation, MAC AIDS Fund and the Elton John AIDS Foundation have funded a project to provide inmates with group educational sessions that provide information on HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis. In addition, each participating inmate is seen individually in a confidential area by a staff member who offers a HIV rapid test and provides appropriate pre- and post-test counseling and other health education.
Identifying previously undiagnosed HIV-positive individuals will allow for appropriate medical care in jail, continuity of care after inmates are discharged and will help reduce the spread of HIV among individual's sexual and drug partners on release. In the first year of the project, 59% of individuals offered an HIV test accepted compared to the 30-33% who accepted HIV testing prior to the intervention. With this project, the NYC Health Department is conducting focus groups with individuals who chronically refuse HIV testing so that the staff can better understand reasons for refusals and improve testing rates, treatment and access to care in jails.