HIV RATES 10 TIMES HIGHER IN PRISONS

TORONTO - A federal government report shows HIV and hepatitis C infection
rates in federal prisons are rising and at least 10 times higher than in
the general population.

The Correctional Service of Canada prepared the report last year but never
released it. CBC News obtained a copy of the report.

The report, the first of its kind, suggests that 1.8 per cent of inmates in
federal prisons have HIV. About one-quarter of all inmates have hepatitis C.

The rates are significantly higher among female inmates. Close to five per
cent have HIV and more than 40 per cent have hepatitis C.

Among male inmates, the highest infection rates are in Quebec.

The report says those rates are likely under-reported, since only about
one-quarter of all inmates undergo the voluntary testing.

It says most of the infections are likely caused by sexual contact and
sharing needles to inject drugs.

People who work in the system say programs like those in the outside
community are needed to reduce the risk.

Prisoners have limited access to condoms and bleach, and some have been
prescribed methadone for heroin addiction.

An AIDS specialist who has worked in the prison system for more than 15
years says that's not enough.

"We need needle exchange and adequate drug rehab programs and neither of
these are in place at the moment," said Dr. Peter Ford of Queen's
University in Kingston, Ont.

A committee set up by the Correctional Service of Canada recommended
starting a needle exchange in prison four years ago, but this report says
there are no plans to do that.

The report recommends better tracking and early diagnosis, saying that can
improve the inmates' health and reduce health-care costs in the long term.