Prisoners are believed to have a high prevalence of HIV infection due to high rates of incarceration among injecting drug users as well as drug use in penitentiary facilities. There are an estimated 145,000 prisoners in Central Asia. Sentinel Surveillance highlights a growing HIV epidemic among inmates. Up to 30% of all newly registered HIV infections are registered in prisons. Three countries in the region (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) reported higher prevalence of HIV among inmates in 2007 in comparison to 2006 data. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have reported the existence of intravenous drug use and coercive sex in the prison system.

 

Prisons have dramatic levels of TB, with a prevalence of TB 35 times higher in prisons in Tajikistan and 65 times higher in prisons in Uzbekistan than in the civilian sector. In Tajikistan, prevalence of TB among prisoners has doubled over the last five years and is approaching 10% of the prison population. About 300 new TB cases are diagnosed annually in the penitentiary system, which corresponds to the incidence rate of about 2,600 per 100,000. Mortality from TB is registered at levels much higher than in the general population. In Kazakhstan, a mortality rate is 55 per 100,000 among prisoners, compared to 17 per 100,000 national average TB mortality.