THE PSYCO – SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF HIV/AIDS TRANSMISSION IN NIGERIAN PRISON

Abstract

The scourge of HIV/AIDS disease has remained an endemic plague among prison inmates in Nigeria over the years, owing to the unrestrained and unwarranted sexually related abuses among prison inmates and the administrative laxity on the part of officials charged with correctional services among the inmates. Also, governments at all levels have failed to decongest prisons amidst the failure of the prison managers to control the spread of this deadly disease. This study interrogated the psycho-social implications of HIV/AIDS transmission among inmates of in Enugu and Awka correctional centers. To achieve this objective the study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data was obtained through interviews and questionnaires administered on the prison managers and prison inmates as respondents. Secondary data were generated from academic journals, internet materials, official documents from the Nigerian prisons as well as other archival materials. This study raised some problematic in areas of: What measures have governments put in place to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS and other related abuses in Nigerian prisons? What are the challenges been face by the government towards decongesting prisons? What are the psycho-social practices that are prevalent among prison inmates? This paper sought for answers to these questions in relation to the various psycho-social practices among these inmates. The findings revealed a high prevalence of sexually related immoral acts through which HIV/AIDs has been spreading in prisons. It also exposed the contour of official complicity in encouraging the use of illicit drugs, diversion of allocations of funds and materials meant for inmates. The study explicates the negative trend that disposes the inmates to criminal practices which generally impact on the system adversely. The study thereby suggests the introduction of effective administrative inquiries and reforms in these prisons; the government should enthronement modern inmates’ correctional practices that de-emphasize inmates’ institutionalization through probation services to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons.