Prevalence of HIV infection among psychiatric patients in a New York City men's shelter

Am J Public Health. 1993 Apr;83(4):568-70. doi: 10.2105/ajph.83.4.568.

Abstract

We report on the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among psychiatric patients in a New York City shelter for homeless men. We reviewed the records of all 90 men discharged from the shelter psychiatry program to community housing over a 2-year period. HIV serostatus was recorded for 62 of the 90 men. Of these 62, 12 (19.4%) were positive. There were 28 men whose serostatus was not recorded. Data on the HIV risk behaviors of these 28 men suggested that seroprevalence could have been similarly high among them. The results indicate an urgent need to develop and apply preventive interventions for HIV in this population.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Comorbidity
  • Ethnicity
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV Seroprevalence*
  • HIV-1*
  • Halfway Houses / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Services Needs and Demand / standards
  • Homosexuality / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Mental Disorders / classification
  • Mental Disorders / complications*
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • New York City / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology