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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2008.136648v1 AJPH.2008.136648v2 99/7/1232    most recent Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Thomson, N. Articles by Celentano, D. D. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thomson, N. Articles by Celentano, D. D. Related Collections Epidemiology HIV/AIDS Other Infections Prevention Drugs

Nicholas Thomson, PhD, Catherine G. Sutcliffe, ScM, Bangorn Sirirojn, MA, Rassamee Keawvichit, MPA, Kanlaya Wongworapat, MSc, Kamolrawee Sintupat, IT, Apinun Aramrattana, MD, PhD and David D. Celentano, ScD

Nicholas Thomson, Catherine G. Sutcliffe, and David D. Celentano are with the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD. Bangorn Sirirojn, Rassamee Keawvichit, Kanlaya Wonworapat, Kamolrawee Sintupat, and Apinun Aramrattana are with the Research Institute for Health Sciences at Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to David D. Celentano, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe St, Room E-6547, Baltimore, MD 21205 (e-mail: dcelenta{at}jhsph.edu).

Objectives. We examined correlates of incarceration among young methamphetamine users in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2005 to 2006.

Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 1189 young methamphetamine users. Participants were surveyed about their recent drug use, sexual behaviors, and incarceration. Biological samples were obtained to test for sexually transmitted and viral infections.

Results. Twenty-two percent of participants reported ever having been incarcerated. In multivariate analysis, risk behaviors including frequent public drunkenness, starting to use illicit drugs at an early age, involvement in the drug economy, tattooing, injecting drugs, and unprotected sex were correlated with a history of incarceration. HIV, HCV, and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection were also correlated with incarceration.

Conclusions. Incarcerated methamphetamine users are engaging in behaviors and being exposed to environments that put them at increased risk of infection and harmful practices. Alternatives to incarceration need to be explored for youths.