STUDY SAYS AIDS PREVALENT IN PRISON

NEW YORK - The prevalence of AIDS among prisoners in the United States is
five times that of the general population, and the rates for some other
sexually transmitted disease are even higher, according to a recent study.

Reporting on the first comprehensive study of these diseases in prisons and
jails, the lead author, Theodore Hammett, said the high prevalence of AIDS
among prisoners reflects their widespread use of drugs before they were
imprisoned. He presented the findings Tuesday at the National HIV
Prevention Conference in Atlanta.

Prisons are a critical setting for detecting and treating sexually
transmitted diseases, Mr. Hammett said, but the quality of health care
varies widely