Objectives
Involvement in the criminal justice system has been associated with increased rates of sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV at the individual and community levels. Studies of testing within jails and prisons also show that screening based on risk behaviors misses a significant number of STD cases, suggesting that incarcerated individuals may have sexual norms, sexual partners, and/or sexual networks that place them at a higher risk for STDs. This study aims to examine these relationships and possible underlying explanations in a population of drug-using women.
Methods
This study uses survey data from adult women recruited in Alameda County, CA, who had used crack/cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin within the last 30 days (N=631). Participants were interviewed about a wide range of health topics and their involvement in the criminal justice system. The relationships between diagnosis of gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomonas at the time of the most recent test and frequency and duration of individual arrest and incarceration as well as partner incarceration were explored using multivariable logistic regression models.
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