TITLE:
Prevalence and Associated Factors of HIV and Syphilis among Inmates in Chad
AUTHORS:
Tchonfiene Passiri Patedjoré, Adoum Fouda Abderrazzack, Demal Chantal, Dillah Christian, Abbas Moustapha, Seni Kouanda
KEYWORDS:
HIV, Syphilis, Prisoners, Chad, Prevalence, Risk Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.15 No.3,
August
14,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: HIV and syphilis are among the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide and remain major public health challenges, particularly in Chad. Incarcerated individuals are disproportionately affected due to high-risk behaviors both prior to and during imprisonment. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors associated with HIV and syphilis infections among incarcerated individuals in Chad, to determine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis within the prison population and to identify the sociodemographic and behavioral determinants associated with these infections. Methodology: A secondary analysis was conducted using data from a cross-sectional survey carried out in eight (8) detention facilities across Chad. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess associations between infections and potential risk factors. Results: A total of 615 inmates were included in the study. The prevalence of HIV was 5.2%, and that of syphilis was 2.9%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant associations between HIV infection and several variables: older age (≥30 years) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 8.54; 95% CI: 1.27 - 57.8; p = 0.02), being widowed or divorced (AOR = 5.09; 95% CI: 1.18 - 21.8; p = 0.03), and drug use (AOR = 4.23; 95% CI: 1.04 - 17.2; p = 0.04). No statistically significant association was found between any variable and syphilis infection. Conclusion: The prevalence of HIV among inmates in Chad was substantially higher than that of the general population (1.1% in the same year). Risk factors such as older age, marital status, and drug use were significantly associated with HIV infection in prison settings. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive prevention strategies that include targeted education, improved living conditions, and expanded access to testing and treatment for incarcerated individuals.