HIV AIDS IN SCOTTISH PRISONS - ATTITUDES OF STAFF AND PRISONERS

Prison is commonly regarded as a high risk environment for the transmi ssion of HIV/AIDS. Five hundred and fifty-nine prisoners and 591 priso n staff sampled from 8 Scottish prisons completed questionnaires conce rning attitudes towards various issues of HIV/AIDS. A majority of pris oners and prison staff expressed liberal attitudes with respect to HIV /AIDS. For both staff and prisoners, the most liberal responses were t o items dealing with personal and social contact with people with HIV/ AIDS. A majority of prisoners and prison staff expressed conservative attitudes in relation to screening of individuals for HIV. With regard to differences between prisoners and prison staff, prisoners were mor e supportive than prison staff of the provision of free condoms to hom osexuals and free condoms and syringes to intravenous drug users, and the provision of free medical care to both groups in the case of AIDS. Among the prisoner sample, intravenous drug users, in comparison to n on-users, were found to be more positive in their attitudes toward HIV /AIDS on a wide range of issues. The implications of the study for hea lth psychology are discussed with regard to prisoner and prison staff educational needs and prisoner management.