Demographic Data

Abstract

to participate; the statement indicated that any information they provided would be medically confidential and that refusal to participate would in no way negatively affect their incar-ceration experience. Inmates were also told that the information they provided would be part of the medical record, would be used for program planning purposes, and would be re-ported only in aggregate form. The 15-minute interview of 130 items was composed of several sections containing ques-tions on demographic and household data; health status and health problems; medical fa-cility use; tobacco, alcohol, and drug use; HIV, other sexually transmitted infections, and sex-ual behavior; other health-related habits; and prior jail time; an additional component on women's health and physical abuse was in-cluded. The interview was designed for easy administration, ready comprehension, and sim-ple data entry. The interviews were edited, open-ended questions were coded, and the data were double entered for accuracy into Epi Info (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga). Results Of the inmates initially admitted to HCCC during the study period, 70% remained in the facility for the third-day medical examination. For various administrative reasons, 20% of the remaining inmates were not interviewed. The interview completion rate was not significantly different by race or age but differed for men (79%) and women (96%). Data are reported separately for 1082 men (90%) and 116 women (10%) when their responses differed.