Cox SL, Gibb M; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1996 Jul 7-12; 11: 352 (abstract no. Th.C.4636).
CSC Pacific Region Matsqui Institution, Abbotsford, BC, Canada. Fax: 1-604-850-8210.
Defining the Issues within Hard to Reach Populations The isolated nature of prisoners often interferes with community understanding of the issues, challenges, successes, failures and opportunities facing the Correctional Service of Canada in its efforts to professionally, compassionately, humanely and securely manage the emergence of HIV/AIDS as a health issue in our prisons. Methods of Understanding/Accepting This "isolation" of the prison environment is not just external to our institutions - it exists within our walls and affects every facet of administering and living in a correctional environment. It's difficult to address and overcome because it is covert - operating in the shadows of the relationships between the keepers and the kept. Values differences, homophobia, the con code, the inmate "class" system of status, organizational priorities, education level, illiteracy, cultural influences, double bunking, and a myriad of other factors all contribute to the dynamic "operation" of any prison. They collectively affect every action and decision, and nowhere is this more obvious than in health promotion through risk reduction activities such as those associated with the management of HIV/AIDS. Conclusions/Lessons Learned: It was in this environment of isolation, wariness, hostility and conflict that a real success story emerged about the comfort level of living with HIV/AIDS inmates and staff at one of our prison, Matsqui Institution In British Columbia. This paper will present the anatomy of this success story in the hope that we can learn from it, repeat it elsewhere, and concretely show others that it is possible to create possibilities in impossible environments.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- British Columbia
- Canada
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Prisoners
- Prisons
- organization & administration
Other ID:
UI: 102220863
From Meeting Abstracts