Publication type:
Research Paper / Project Report
Agency:
BC Persons with AIDS Society (BCPWA)
Summary:
Report giving the findings of research undertaken by the BC Persons with AIDS Society (BCPWA) to identify barriers to HIV/AIDS care in prisons on a provincial and national basis. They developed the IMPACT reporting form, which AIDS Service Organizations fill in to record the experiences and complaints of their clients in prison. Participant organizations identified many problems for prisoners, with regard to accessing HIV-related medications as well as methadone treatment. Organizations also reported lack of access to proper diet among their clients; breaches in confidentiality by prison staff; and poor access to doctors, elders, bloodwork, HIV preventative materials like condoms and bleach, and HIV testing. The report gives a set of recommendations based on these findings, including the need for continued use of IMPACT reporting forms (with some revisions); systemic and collective advocacy to eliminate the inequalities between standards of health care being provided to those in prison compared to the general community; and efforts to fully document rights violations of prisoners living with HIV/AIDS so that they may possibly be resolved through the court system.
Keywords:
BC Persons with AIDS Society (BCPWA); HIV; HIV/AIDS; AIDS; health care; medical treatment; support services; access to services; Canada; prisons; prisoners; prisoners' rights; methadone; HIV treatment;