Chicago Sun Times
CHICAGO — Nearly one-third of men in Illinois prisons have gotten a tattoo while behind bars -- a risky behavior when it comes to HIV infection, a new study found.
The study by researchers at Chicago State University found that 29 percent of incarcerated men have gotten tattoos while in jail.
For women, the most risky behavior is having sexual intercourse: nearly 19 percent do so, the study in the Journal of Women’s Health found.
Researchers surveyed 526 women and 1,293 men in Illinois prisons about their HIV risk behaviors, including sexual intercourse, injected drug use, needle sharing, tattooing and body piercing.
The report said engaging in the risky behavior is a bigger problem in prison because things like condoms and clean needles are not permitted.
HIV infection rates are an estimated 4 to 10 times higher than in the general population.
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