NEUROLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS IN HIV-POSITIVE INMATES WITHIN AZERBAIJANI CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

Authors:

Abstract:

A cross-sectional study recruited 376 incarcerated individuals from Azerbaijani penitentiary institutions, including 257 human immune deficiency virus (HIV)-positive (main group) and 119 HIV-negative participants (control group). Clinical, neurological, and psychological evaluations were conducted using standardized tools, adapted for the local context. The main group had shorter sentences, with 36.6 % serving ≤1 year, (14.3 % in the control group (p<0.001)), and a higher proportion with only secondary education (77.0 % vs. 42.9 %, p<0.001), higher rates of infectious diseases, and 64.6 % with drug addiction (vs. 5.9 %, p<0.001). Cognitive impairments and neurological disorders, including dementia, were more prevalent in the main group, with 41.3 % showing any dementia (vs. 21.0 % in the control group, p<0.001). Quality-of-life assessments showed lower scores in the main group. HIV-infected prisoners experience significantly worse cognitive function, higher rates of infectious and psychological comorbidities, and a lower quality of life compared to non-infected inmates.

Keywords:

HIV polyneuropathy HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder quality of life

References:

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Publication:

«World of Medicine and Biology» Vol. 21 No. 94 (2025) , с. 7-11
УДК 616.8:616.98:578.828.6

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26724/2079-8334-2025-4-94-7-11