The study examines how the transmission of
HIV/AIDS is mitigated by Kenya Prison Service and is
guided by four objectives: (a) To measure the perception of
Kenyan prisoners on the scourge of HIV/AIDS in prisons; (b)
To assess the capacity of Kenya Prison Service in the
prevention, control and management of HIV/AIDS in
Kenyan prisons; (c) To identify the common practices of
managing HIV/AIDS in Kenyan prisons and (d) To evaluate
the efficacy of HIV/AIDS management in Kenyan prisons. A
survey research of 142 inmates was conducted in 2012/2013.
Of these, 98 (69%) were males from Kamiti and 44 (31%)
were females from Lang’ata prison. The findings of the study
show that, a) More than half 79 (56%) of the total sample in
the prisons studied self-reported being infected with HIV b)
the reported prevalence of HIV/AIDS is higher among the
male respondents as opposed to their female counterparts
and c) mean duration of imprisonment was 6 years 2 months.
This is not surprising noting that the study was carried out in
maximum security prisons where long term inmates are
incarcerated. This implies inmates were more
knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. The main obstacles to
effective implementation of HIV management programs in
Kenyan prisons include a) high prevalence of HIV by
inmates; b) lack of clear and proper mechanism of
identifying the HIV-positive inmates; c) congestion in
prisons; d) poor access to health care services; e) inadequate
knowledge about HIV; and f) lack of elaborate discharge
planning programs.