Title: The influence of imprisonment on HIV and its impact on health-related inequalities in New York City

Authors: Juan J. DelaCruz; Nikolaos Papanikolaou; Rongning Wu

Addresses: Department of Business and Economics, Lehman College – CUNY, 250 Bedford Park Blvd., West, CA 379, Bronx, NY 10468, USA ' School of Public Health, Lehman College – CUNY, 250 Bedford Park Blvd West, GH 431, Bronx, NY 10468, USA ' Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College – CUNY, One Bernard Baruch Way, Box B11-220, New York, NY 10010, USA

Abstract: New York City has been the centre of the HIV epidemic where vulnerable populations disproportionately face negative health outcomes. This paper explains the behaviour of the HIV epidemic in terms of its racial/ethnic composition due to the effects of the criminal justice system, and sustains the necessity of more culturally tailored health interventions to prevent the spread of the disease. To achieve this goal, secondary data analysis and a panel regression device including individuals of specific racial/ethnic backgrounds periodically observed between 2002 and 2009, are required. This paper explores the fundamental characteristics of the HIV epidemic and its swings in terms of socio-economic determinants as a result of the unbalanced prevalence of imprisonment amid historically underrepresented groups.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; imprisonment; health inequalities; minority health; Hispanics; Blacks; USA; United States; prison; New York City; HIV; AIDS; racial composition; ethnic composition; criminal justice system; tailored health intervention; socio-economic determinants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2013.055534

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2013 Vol.6 No.2, pp.115 - 126

Published online: 30 Dec 2013 *

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