Burden of infectious diseases, substance use disorders, and mental illness among Ukrainian prisoners transitioning to the community.

Background: The epidemics of incarceration, substance use disorders (SUDs), and infectious diseases are inextricably intertwined, especially in the Former Soviet Union (FSU). Few objective data documenting this relationship regionally are available. We therefore conducted a comprehensive, representative country-wide prison health survey in Ukraine, where one of the world's most volatile HIV epidemics persists, in order to address HIV prevention and treatment needs.

Ukrainian prisoners and community reentry challenges: implications for transitional care.

Purpose: The study aims to assess reentry challenges faced by Ukrainian prisoners and to determine the factors associated with having a greater number of challenges in order to suggest pre- and post-release interventions with the aim of facilitating community reintegration.

Design/methodology/approach: A representative national cross-sectional study with a sample size of 402 prisoners was conducted among imprisoned adults within six months of release. The study consisted of interviews and biological testing for infectious diseases.