Findings From STD Screening of Adolescents and Adults Entering Corrections Facilities

Mertz, Kristen J.; Voigt, Richard; Hutchins, Kathleen; Levine, William C.

doi:10.1097/00007435-200212000-00016

Cited by 133 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The HCV seroprevalence rate was particularly high in inmates incarcerated for longer than the median time served of 36 months, inmates reporting a previous history of IDU, and homosexual inmates. The finding of higher HCVantibody prevalence in inmates with previous history of IDU and homosexuality relative to those without such previous history is consistent with the literature, and is widely attributable to sex-and drug-related behaviours practised outside the correctional setting, although transmission of HCV has also been documented inside prisons (Alizadeh et al, 2005;Catalan-Soares et al, 2000;Chetwynd et al, 1995;Hammett et al, 2002;Mertz et al, 2002;Mutter et al, 1994;Reindollar, 1999;Skoretz et al, 2004;Solomon et al, 2004;Spaulding et al, 1999;Stratton et al, 1997;Veeken, 2000;Weild et al, 2000;Weinbaum et al, 2005). The overall seroprevalence of HCV infection among Ghanaian prisoners (18.7 %) is higher than the results of similar studies in incarcerated populations in England and Wales (7 %) (Weild et al, 2000), and Brazil (6.3 %) (Catalan-Soares et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Prison populations are considered to be at high risk for HCV infection due to the high proportion of intravenous drug users, commercial sex workers and homeless people, as well as high-risk sexual behaviours before and during incarceration, and tattooing among inmates (Alizadeh et al, 2005;Hammett et al, 2002;Mertz et al, 2002;Reindollar, 1999;Spaulding et al, 1999;Veeken, 2000). Addressing these risk behaviours and the health needs of prisoners is important because the frequency and turnover of incarceration in Ghana is alarmingly high (unpublished data, Ghana Prisons Service).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: a national multicentre study

Adjei

Armah

Gbagbo

et al. 2007

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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A national multicentre cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a sample of inmates from eight Ghanaian prisons. A total of 1366 inmates from eight of the ten regional central prisons in Ghana were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for the presence of antibodies to HCV. These data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate techniques. The median age of participants was 36.5 years (range 16-84 years). Of the 1366 inmates tested, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7 %. On multivariate analysis, the independent determinants of HCV infection were being incarcerated for longer than the median time served of 36 months [odds ratio (OR) 5.8; 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 5.0-6.9], history of intravenous drug use (OR 4.5;) and homosexuality (OR 3.1;. Consistent with similar studies worldwide, the prevalence of HCV in prison inmates was higher than the general population in Ghana, suggesting probable transmission in prisons in Ghana through intravenous drug use and unsafe sexual behaviour.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: a national multicentre study

Adjei

Armah

Gbagbo

et al. 2007

Journal of Medical Microbiology

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“…9 The prevalence of STIs, such as Chlamydia infection, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis, as well as hepatitis B and C is also several times higher among incarcerated women. [10][11][12][13] Although the BOP recommends routine screening for syphilis and risk-based screening for Chlamydia and hepatitis B and C in prison, 8 the opportunity to screen and vaccinate is often missed, particularly in the jail setting. 14,15 Given the overlap of injection drug use (IDU) and high-risk sexual encounters, the prevalence of HIV is also higher among incarcerated women than in the general population.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Preventive Healthcare for Underserved Women: Results of a Prison Survey

Nijhawan

Salloway

Nunn

et al. 2010

Journal of Women's Health

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Objectives: We sought to determine the preventive healthcare needs of incarcerated women in the following areas: cervical cancer and breast cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening, hepatitis screening and vaccination, and smoking cessation. Methods: A cross-sectional interview survey of a random sample of 100 incarcerated women at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) in Cranston, Rhode Island, was conducted. Results: Participants were 62% white, 11% African American, 13% Hispanic, and 14% of mixed race. Mean age was 35 years. Of those surveyed, 67% reported having had a Papanicolou (Pap) smear in the past year, the strongest predictor of which was having received a Pap smear while incarcerated. Of the inmates >40 years old, 58% reported having had a mammogram in the past 2 years. The majority (88%) reported testing for STIs in the past, and 39% desired testing during their current incarceration. As for hepatitis C, 70% had been tested previously and 37% of those reported testing positive. Hispanics were less likely than whites to have been tested for hepatitis C (OR 0.1). Over half (54%) of the women who reported testing positive for hepatitis C also reported having completed the hepatitis A and B vaccine series. Among smokers (80% of all survey participants), 61% were interested in quitting. Those who had been incarcerated multiple times were less likely to want to quit smoking (OR 0.1). Conclusions: Incarceration presents a unique opportunity to provide preventive healthcare to high-risk, medically underserved women.

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“…We identified a large sample of women at risk and observed high participation rates for voluntary STD screening among women who traditionally underutilize health care services elsewhere. [17][18][19] We applied the STARHS methodology to estimate HIV incidence in a cross-sectional design and geographic analysis to enhance our understanding of the communities being sampled. Geographic analysis also offered practical suggestions for targeting new and evaluating existing HIV prevention programs for women by neighborhood.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Sentinel Surveillance and Geographic Information Systems to Monitor Trends in HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Related Risk Behavior among Women Undergoing Syphilis Screening in a Jail Setting

et al. 2008

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Innovative methods are needed to systematically track the HIV epidemic and appropriately target prevention and care programs in vulnerable populations of women. We conducted sentinel surveillance among women entering the jail system of San Francisco from 1999 to 2001 to track trends in HIV incidence, HIV prevalence, and related risk behavior. Using geographic information software (GIS), we triangulated findings to examine the spatial distribution of risk and disease. A total of 1,577 female arrestees voluntarily screened for sexually transmitted diseases at intake were included. HIV incidence, estimated using the serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV seroconversion (STARHS), was 0.4% per year (95% confidence interval [95%CI]=0.1-2.1). HIV prevalence was 1.8% (95%CI=1.1-2.4). HIV infection was independently associated with age 30 to 39 years compared to all other ages, African-American race/ethnicity vs. non-African-American, and recent injection drug use. Maps showed that the communities in which arrested women reside are also those with the highest concentrations of newly detected female HIV cases, AIDS cases, and clients of substance use programs. The combined strategy of using sentinel surveillance in the jail setting and GIS to map the spatial distribution of disease provides a useful tool to identify patterns of risk in hard-to-reach, vulnerable populations of women.

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Findings From STD Screening of Adolescents and Adults Entering Corrections Facilities

Cited by 133 publications

References 6 publications

Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: a national multicentre study

Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: a national multicentre study

Preventive Healthcare for Underserved Women: Results of a Prison Survey

Use of Sentinel Surveillance and Geographic Information Systems to Monitor Trends in HIV Prevalence, Incidence, and Related Risk Behavior among Women Undergoing Syphilis Screening in a Jail Setting

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