Research at a glance

Why we did this study

Correctional Service Canada (CSC) conducted this study to obtain information about inmates’ health risk-behaviours, use of health programs, and knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This information will help CSC to better address the health needs of inmates.

What we did

In collaboration with inmates and the Public Health Agency of Canada, CSC developed a self-administered questionnaire that asked inmates about their risk-behaviours, such as drug use and sexual activity, use of health programs offered by CSC, and knowledge of HIV and HCV. A random sample of men and all women were invited to complete the questionnaire. Inmate participation was voluntary. To ensure privacy and confidentiality, an external private company administered and retained the anonymous questionnaires, and provided CSC with an anonymous database for analysis. In total, 3,370 inmates across Canada completed the questionnaire in 2007. This report focuses on inmates’ knowledge of HIV and HCV, and the associations between knowledge, health education program attendance, and behaviour.

What we found

Overall knowledge was higher for HIV than HCV. On average, inmates correctly answered 80% of the HIV questions compared to 69% of the HCV questions.

For both HIV and HCV, inmates were most knowledgeable regarding the major modes of transmission. For HCV, however, knowledge of transmission through casual contact, prevention, and testing and treatment were lower.

For both HIV and HCV, women were slightly more knowledgeable than men; non-Aboriginal inmates were slightly more knowledgeable than Aboriginal inmates; and, health education program attendees were slightly more knowledgeable than non-attendees.

There were instances where greater knowledge was associated with safer behaviour. For example, inmates aware of the HIV-risk associated with injecting drugs with needles previously used by others were less likely to report injecting drugs during the past six months in prison compared to inmates who were unaware of the risk (14% vs. 22%).

What it means

For inmates to make informed decisions about their behaviour and care, they require knowledge about infectious disease transmission, prevention, testing and treatment. The survey identified specific knowledge deficiencies which can be addressed in CSC’s health education programs. Since there were instances where greater knowledge was associated with safer behaviour, efforts to increase inmate knowledge may translate to overall safer environments for inmates, staff, and ultimately the community.

For more information

Zakaria, D., Thompson, J., Borgatta, F. (2009). The Relationship between Knowledge of HIV and HCV, Health Education, and Risk and Harm-Reducing Behaviours among Canadian Federal Inmates. Research Report R-195. Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada.

To obtain a PDF version of the full report, contact the following address: research@csc-scc.gc.ca.

Prepared by: Dianne Zakaria

Contact

Research Branch
(613) 996-3287
research@csc-scc.gc.ca