Philadelphia FIGHT

Offering Comprehensive Care to Reduce Recidivism

Abstract

Chronic disease impacts nearly 117 million people in the United States, equating to approximately one in every two adults. The challenges posed by these diseases include great financial strain, social stigmatization and the progressive deterioration of quality of life. While these challenges are incredibly difficult for many people who are learning to modify their lives to accommodate changes in health, they are particularly complicated for those living in low-income and crime-ridden communities. Among these chronic, life-altering diagnoses is HIV/AIDS, which presents its highest incidence rate in the incarcerated community. Compared with the general population, incarcerated individuals have greater contributing risk factors that are associated with acquiring and transmitting HIV, including drug use, commercial sexual behavior, untreated mental illness and low socioeconomic status. By virtue of numerous social determinants of health prior to, during and post-incarceration, prisoners are also significantly more likely to experience poor health outcomes and carry the highest burden of chronic disease compared with the general public (Binswanger, Krueger, & Steiner, 2009).