PRISONERS KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARD PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT THERAPY

Identifying factors that hinder an inmate's compliance with Pneumocyst is carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis therapy can be critical in prev enting or decreasing the occurrence of PCP in this population. Anticip ated factors include lack of knowledge about PCP and its proposed trea tment, fear of the adverse effects of prophylaxis therapy, and lack of trust in the correctional facility medical team. Structured interview s were administered to HIV-positive male inmates chosen randomly (n = 104) at a medium- to maximum-security medical correctional facility lo cated in the western portion of the United States. A basic ''HIV 101 a nd Early Intervention'' program encompassed the presentation of HIV fa cts and knowledge as well as safer sex practices. The results revealed that 95% of the respondents were knowledgeable about PCP and the side effects of their medications, and 56% of the respondents were afraid of the medications' side effects. Significant differences based on age were recorded for several specific knowledge questions, including the preventable nature of PCP.