Reducing postrelease HIV risk among male prison inmates - A peer-led intervention

Male prison inmates within 2 weeks of release were recruited to evaluate a pre-release HIV prevention intervention. A total of 414 inmates were random ly assigned to receive the intervention or to a comparison group. All parti cipants completed a face-to-face survey at baseline; high rates of preincar ceration at-risk behavior were reported. Follow-up telephone surveys were c ompleted with 43% of participants; results support the effectiveness of the prerelease intervention. Men who received the intervention were significan tly more likely to use a condom the first time they had sex after release f rom prison and also were less likely to have used drugs, injected drugs; or shared needles in the first 2 weeks after release from prison. Implication s for the development, implementation, and evaluation of prison-based HIV p revention programs are discussed.