Effect of Health Education Intervention on Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and Risky Sexual Behaviours amongst Prison Inmates in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

The prison population worldwide accommodates a higher proportion of individuals at high risk of HIV infection compared to the general population, and there is recognition of risky sexual activities among the inmates. But for complex political, legal, social, cultural and religious reasons, preventive measures like use of condom in prison are often not permitted and access to community based intervention in prison is limited. In order to make meaningful decisions about their reproductive health, inmates need reliable information. This study assessed the effect of health education on HIV/AIDS related knowledge and risky sexual behaviours amongst prison inmates in Kaduna State, Nigerian. The study employed a quasi- experimental study design among 366 inmates in two prisons between 1st November 2010 and April 2011 using multistage sampling technique. Educational intervention with an integrated peer education was instituted in the study prison after baseline data was collected from both intervention and control prisons and the outcome of the intervention in the intervention prison was carried out immediately, and three months post intervention.