A longitudinal study of health outcomes for people released from prison in Fiji: the HIP-Fiji project

Stuart A. Kinner; Rebecca Winter; Kate Saxton

doi:10.1177/1039856215608289

A longitudinal study of health outcomes for people released from prison in Fiji: the HIP-Fiji project

Stuart A. Kinner, Rebecca Winter, Kate Saxton

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Objective: To examine the health of prisoners and ex-prisoners in Fiji, including risk behaviours, service access and HIV status.

Methods: Longitudinal study of 198 men and women recruited prior to release from prison in Fiji, interviewed in the weeks preceding release, and again 1 and 4 months post-release. Dried blood spot samples taken at baseline were tested for HIV.

Results: Eighty percent of participants completed at least one follow-up interview. The prevalence of HIV was low (1%), despite evidence of widespread STI and BBV risk behaviours. A history of risky substance use was normative and more than a third reported high psychological distress prior to release. Fewer than one in four reported accessing health care within a month of release from prison.

Conclusions: The health needs of this population are significant but differ in important ways from those of incarcerated populations in other countries. Further research is needed to inform evidence-based care for prisoners and ex-prisoners in Pacific Island nations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	17-21
Number of pages	5
Journal	Australasian Psychiatry
Volume	23
Issue number	6_suppl
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856215608289
Publication status	Published - 3 Dec 2015
Externally published	Yes

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title = "A longitudinal study of health outcomes for people released from prison in Fiji: the HIP-Fiji project",

abstract = "Objective: To examine the health of prisoners and ex-prisoners in Fiji, including risk behaviours, service access and HIV status. Methods: Longitudinal study of 198 men and women recruited prior to release from prison in Fiji, interviewed in the weeks preceding release, and again 1 and 4 months post-release. Dried blood spot samples taken at baseline were tested for HIV. Results: Eighty percent of participants completed at least one follow-up interview. The prevalence of HIV was low (1%), despite evidence of widespread STI and BBV risk behaviours. A history of risky substance use was normative and more than a third reported high psychological distress prior to release. Fewer than one in four reported accessing health care within a month of release from prison. Conclusions: The health needs of this population are significant but differ in important ways from those of incarcerated populations in other countries. Further research is needed to inform evidence-based care for prisoners and ex-prisoners in Pacific Island nations.",

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N2 - Objective: To examine the health of prisoners and ex-prisoners in Fiji, including risk behaviours, service access and HIV status. Methods: Longitudinal study of 198 men and women recruited prior to release from prison in Fiji, interviewed in the weeks preceding release, and again 1 and 4 months post-release. Dried blood spot samples taken at baseline were tested for HIV. Results: Eighty percent of participants completed at least one follow-up interview. The prevalence of HIV was low (1%), despite evidence of widespread STI and BBV risk behaviours. A history of risky substance use was normative and more than a third reported high psychological distress prior to release. Fewer than one in four reported accessing health care within a month of release from prison. Conclusions: The health needs of this population are significant but differ in important ways from those of incarcerated populations in other countries. Further research is needed to inform evidence-based care for prisoners and ex-prisoners in Pacific Island nations.

AB - Objective: To examine the health of prisoners and ex-prisoners in Fiji, including risk behaviours, service access and HIV status. Methods: Longitudinal study of 198 men and women recruited prior to release from prison in Fiji, interviewed in the weeks preceding release, and again 1 and 4 months post-release. Dried blood spot samples taken at baseline were tested for HIV. Results: Eighty percent of participants completed at least one follow-up interview. The prevalence of HIV was low (1%), despite evidence of widespread STI and BBV risk behaviours. A history of risky substance use was normative and more than a third reported high psychological distress prior to release. Fewer than one in four reported accessing health care within a month of release from prison. Conclusions: The health needs of this population are significant but differ in important ways from those of incarcerated populations in other countries. Further research is needed to inform evidence-based care for prisoners and ex-prisoners in Pacific Island nations.

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A longitudinal study of health outcomes for people released from prison in Fiji: the HIP-Fiji project

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