Women in prison, compare to men, are at much higher risk to be infected with HIV, HCV during unprotected sex. WUD in prisons should have equivalent access to gender-sensitive health and HIV services as their non-incarcerated counterparts in the community.
Women in prison, compare to men, are at much higher risk to be infected with HIV, HCV during unprotected sex. WUD are particularly at risk due to the multiply usage and sharing of injecting utilities. Many women experience sexual violence from the prison guards or sell sex in order to finance their drug use. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has identified and published a comprehensive package of 15 key HR interventions and services to safeguard the health and safety of all people who inject drugs in prison settings, including women and WUD, who are often abused during detention:
Information, education and communication
Condom programs
Prevention of sexual violence
Drug dependence treatment, including OST
Needle and syringe programs
Prevention of transmission through medical or dental services
Prevention of transmission through tattooing, piercing and other forms of skin penetration
Post-exposure prophylaxis
HIV testing and counselling
HIV treatment, care and support
Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV
Prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections
Vaccination, diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis
Protecting staff from occupational hazards
WUD in prisons should have equivalent access to gender-sensitive health and HIV services as their non-incarcerated counterparts in the community. WUD as well as all other prisoners are better able to reintegrate into communities when pre-release preparations start early. All services within the prison, especially prison health services, should develop individual plans for client support after release. A client-based and gender-sensitive approach is the most effective strategy to ensure continuity of care and access to health and other services after release. It is most likely to address the needs of WUD when it is developed in conjunction with each of them and identifies referral processes and mechanisms to track access to services.
