Using Arrest Charge as a Screening Criterion to Identify Undiagnosed HIV Infection among New Arrestees: A Study among Los Angeles County Jail Inmates

摘要

Despite high documented HIV prevalence, few jail systems offer universal HIV screening, nor is this always feasible. We evaluated undiagnosed HIV infection and HIV risk history by arrest charge among 1,322 new arrestees in order to examine whether specific charges may help prioritize jail-based screening programs. Undiagnosed HIV prevalence was 2.7% and 1.0% among males and females, with 32% and 45% reporting high HIV-risk histories. Risk history distinguished HIV-infected males but not females. Males with parole violations, sex, or theft charges had high undiagnosed HIV infection relative to other males. A weaker trend was observed for females with parole violations, drug, or violent charges. These charges represented 30% and 66% of males and females studied and 56% and 100% of their undiagnosed HIV infections, respectively. Using arrest charge to target screening may efficiently increase HIV diagnosis in jail inmates.