The engagement of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in highly vulnerable groups is essential, as low educational levels and risk behaviors pose challenges to reducing STI prevalence in prison populations. Educational interventions, focused on prevention and knowledge empowerment, conducted on-site by HCPs can be highly effective. In this descriptive, quantitative study, the impact of educational interventions on STIs was evaluated among male inmates in a Penitentiary Progression Center (CPP). In one of the prison’s pavilions, an educational session was conducted on STIs, addressing self-diagnosis, transmission, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and treatment, allowing direct interaction between HCPs and inmates. Participants anonymously completed questionnaires before and after the session, with responses analyzed descriptively by comparing pre- and post-intervention results (22 pre-tests, 11 post-tests). Before the intervention, 90.9% of participants reported knowing what STIs were, increasing to 100% after the session. Recognition of PrEP and PEP increased from 22.7% to 90.9%, while the belief that condom use was the only method of STI protection rose from 52.4% to 64.5%, showing persistence of a limited perception. Recognition of clinical symptoms was already high in the pre-test: 77.3% associated genital ulcers with STIs and 95.5% related urethral discharge to disease; after the session, 100% said they would seek medical help if they noticed such signs. However, 54.5% still erroneously believed that using two overlapping condoms increased protection. It can be concluded that educational interventions have a positive impact on knowledge about STIs among people deprived of liberty, particularly in the recognition of PrEP and PEP, and in encouraging a more proactive attitude toward symptoms despite the persistence of some misconceptions, highlighting the importance of health education in prison settings as a strategy for prevention and for combating misinformation.
Fanti et al. (Sun,) studied this question.