This paper is a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of PTB and HIV among male inmates of the Zamboanga City Jail and likewise their HIV high risk behavior. This study used a total count sampling utilizing a self-administered questionnaire containing questions regarding TB symptomatology, exposure to TB and about High risk behavior for developing HIV. All male inmates underwent PTB survey screening plus chest X-ray and TB/HIV counseling and testing. Out of 2,205 male inmates surveyed, 1,372 (62.22%) were PTB asymptomatic and 833 (37.77%) were symptomatic. A total of only 2,183 (99%) of the respondents underwent chest X-ray as 22 were already diagnosed with TB prior to the conduct of the study. Three-hundred seventy-three (373, 17.08%) were chest X-ray positive and 1,810 (82.91%) were negative. Among inmates with chest X-ray positive, 75 respondents were randomly tested for Xpert MTB/RIF and 16 (22.85%) respondents were found positive. Overall, the prevalence of PTB among male inmates of the Zamboanga City Jail was 17.91%. The prevalence of clinically diagnosed TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB were 16.32% and 1.53%, respectively. In addition, occupancy rate of the prison was determined and found to be as high as 2,125% overpopulated. Among the identified HIV risk behaviors, the most common reported among male inmates is tattooing (942, 42.27%) of which 674 of those had tattoos used shared needles (674, 30.56%) during incarceration. Although no respondent was tested positive for HIV, the presence of HIV risk behaviors among male prison inmates provides a potential risk for easy HIV spread once an undetected inmate is admitted to this facility. It is recommended that strict screening of new inmate admission to avoid introduction of PTB and HIV infection into the current system must be followed and a similar study be done in other correctional facilities.

Keyword: HIV Pulmonary tuberculosis Male prison inmates