Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.

<h4>Aims</h4>To determine the effects of 1) a condom distribution program and 2) a condom distribution program combined with opt-out sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening on the transmission and prevalence of STIs in a prison system.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data from an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nick Scott, Emma McBryde, Amy Kirwan, Mark Stoové
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144869&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850189372235710464
author Nick Scott
Emma McBryde
Amy Kirwan
Mark Stoové
author_facet Nick Scott
Emma McBryde
Amy Kirwan
Mark Stoové
author_sort Nick Scott
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Aims</h4>To determine the effects of 1) a condom distribution program and 2) a condom distribution program combined with opt-out sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening on the transmission and prevalence of STIs in a prison system.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data from an implementation evaluation of a state-wide prison condom program and parameter estimates from available literature, a deterministic model was developed to quantify the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted HIV, hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea across 14 Victorian prisons. The model included individual prison populations (by longer (>2 years) or shorter sentence lengths) and monthly prisoner transfers. For each STI, simulations were compared: without any intervention; with a condom distribution program; and with a combined condom and opt-out STI screening at prison reception intervention program.<h4>Results</h4>Condoms reduced the annual incidence of syphilis by 99% (N = 66 averted cases); gonorrhoea by 98% (N = 113 cases); hepatitis B by 71% (N = 5 cases); chlamydia by 27% (N = 196 cases); and HIV by 50% (N = 2 cases every 10 years). Condom availability changed the in-prison epidemiology of gonorrhoea and syphilis from self-sustaining to levels unlikely to result in infection outbreaks; however, condoms did not reduce chlamydia prevalence below a self-sustaining level due to its high infectiousness, high prevalence and low detection rate. When combined with a screening intervention program, condoms reduced chlamydia prevalence further, but not below a self-sustaining level. The low prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B in Australian prisons meant the effects of condoms were predicted to be small.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Condoms are predicted to effectively reduce the incidence of STIs in prison and are predicted to control syphilis and gonorrhoea transmission, however even combined with a screening on arrival program may be insufficient to reduce chlamydia prevalence below self-sustaining levels. To control chlamydia transmission additional screening of the existing prison population would be required.
format Article
id doaj-art-0a6091d593de4b7aa35fa501cf5f9b0a
institution OA Journals
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-0a6091d593de4b7aa35fa501cf5f9b0a2025-08-20T02:15:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-011012e014486910.1371/journal.pone.0144869Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.Nick ScottEmma McBrydeAmy KirwanMark Stoové<h4>Aims</h4>To determine the effects of 1) a condom distribution program and 2) a condom distribution program combined with opt-out sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening on the transmission and prevalence of STIs in a prison system.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data from an implementation evaluation of a state-wide prison condom program and parameter estimates from available literature, a deterministic model was developed to quantify the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted HIV, hepatitis B, chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea across 14 Victorian prisons. The model included individual prison populations (by longer (>2 years) or shorter sentence lengths) and monthly prisoner transfers. For each STI, simulations were compared: without any intervention; with a condom distribution program; and with a combined condom and opt-out STI screening at prison reception intervention program.<h4>Results</h4>Condoms reduced the annual incidence of syphilis by 99% (N = 66 averted cases); gonorrhoea by 98% (N = 113 cases); hepatitis B by 71% (N = 5 cases); chlamydia by 27% (N = 196 cases); and HIV by 50% (N = 2 cases every 10 years). Condom availability changed the in-prison epidemiology of gonorrhoea and syphilis from self-sustaining to levels unlikely to result in infection outbreaks; however, condoms did not reduce chlamydia prevalence below a self-sustaining level due to its high infectiousness, high prevalence and low detection rate. When combined with a screening intervention program, condoms reduced chlamydia prevalence further, but not below a self-sustaining level. The low prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B in Australian prisons meant the effects of condoms were predicted to be small.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Condoms are predicted to effectively reduce the incidence of STIs in prison and are predicted to control syphilis and gonorrhoea transmission, however even combined with a screening on arrival program may be insufficient to reduce chlamydia prevalence below self-sustaining levels. To control chlamydia transmission additional screening of the existing prison population would be required.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144869&type=printable
spellingShingle Nick Scott
Emma McBryde
Amy Kirwan
Mark Stoové
Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.
PLoS ONE
title Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.
title_full Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.
title_fullStr Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.
title_full_unstemmed Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.
title_short Modelling the Impact of Condom Distribution on the Incidence and Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in an Adult Male Prison System.
title_sort modelling the impact of condom distribution on the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in an adult male prison system
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0144869&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT nickscott modellingtheimpactofcondomdistributionontheincidenceandprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinanadultmaleprisonsystem
AT emmamcbryde modellingtheimpactofcondomdistributionontheincidenceandprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinanadultmaleprisonsystem
AT amykirwan modellingtheimpactofcondomdistributionontheincidenceandprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinanadultmaleprisonsystem
AT markstoove modellingtheimpactofcondomdistributionontheincidenceandprevalenceofsexuallytransmittedinfectionsinanadultmaleprisonsystem