Title |
Prisoners are at risk for hepatitis C transmission
|
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Published in |
European Journal of Epidemiology, December 2004
|
DOI | 10.1007/s10654-004-1705-9 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Tony Butler, Azar Kariminia, Michael Levy, John Kaldor |
Abstract |
Determine the incidence of hepatitis C virus antibodies among a cohort of prisoners. Follow-up study of a random sample of prisoners who participated in a cross-sectional survey in 1996. 29 correctional centres in New South Wales (Australia). 181 adult prisoners (163 men and 18 women). The incidence of hepatitis C virus antibody among the 90 inmates who were seronegative at the first test in 1996 was 7.1 per 100 person-years (16 seroconverters). Among the 90 inmates, 37 had re-entered the prison system following release into the community and 53 had been continuously detained. The seroconversion rate was higher among the re-entrants compared with those who had been continuously incarcerated (10.8 vs. 4.5 per 100 person-years, p=0.07). However, when the data was stratified by injecting status, the serocon-version rate in the two groups was similar. Most of the seroconverters had histories of injecting drug users (14/16). The overall incidence among injectors was 19.3 per 100 person years (95% CI: 9.1-29.2). Hepatitis C transmission occurs inside the prison with injecting drug use the likely cause. Among non-injectors, tattooing was the most likely mode of transmission. Harm minimisation measures with proven effectiveness need to be considered for this environment. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Canada | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 35 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 6 | 17% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 4 | 11% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 8% |
Student > Postgraduate | 3 | 8% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 3 | 8% |
Other | 7 | 19% |
Unknown | 10 | 28% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 12 | 33% |
Social Sciences | 5 | 14% |
Psychology | 4 | 11% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 2 | 6% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 1 | 3% |
Other | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 11 | 31% |