Prevalence and Correlates of HCV, HVB, and HIV Infection among Prison Inmates and Staff, Hungary

Abstract

The aim of this national, multicenter, cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) among prisoners, and to identify related risk behaviors including injection drug use. Overall, 4,894 inmates from 20 prisons were enrolled. To have a comparison group, prison staff were also asked to take part. Altogether, 1,553 of the 4,894 inmates from seven prisons completed a questionnaire on risk behaviors. According to the survey, 1.5%, 4.9%, and 0.04% of the prisoners were tested positive for HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV, respectively. These prevalence data are among the lowest reported from prisons worldwide, although comparable to the Central European data. The prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV in the Hungarian prison staff was low (0.38%, 0.47%, and 0%, respectively). The rate of HCV infection was significantly higher among inmates who have ever injected drugs (22.5%) than among inmates who reported they had never injected drugs (1.1%). This first prevalence study of illegal drug injection-related viral infections among Hungarian prisoners points out that ever injecting drugs is the main reason for HCV infection among inmates. The opportunity to reach drug users infected with HCV for treatment underlines the importance of screening programs for blood-borne viruses in prisons.

Epidemiology and Treatment of Hepatitis B in Prisoners

“…In a Hungarian prevalence study that targeted a population of incarcerated individuals, it was found that the individuals had HBsAg detected in their blood at a rate of 1.5% (72 of 4,894). However, it should be noted that the study was a voluntary opt-in screening sample rather than a random sample (4,894 of 14,331 total incarcerated people volunteered to participate) so rates may not accurately reflect the true prevalence rate [9]. …”

Sero-Prevalence of Bloodborne Tumor Viruses (HCV, HBV, HTLV-I and KSHV Infections) and Related Risk Factors among Prisoners in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran, in 2008

“…Up to 35% of the prisoners are addicted to drugs and they may transmit these infections to others while they return home (24). The prevalence of HCV infection in prisoners in Lebanon, Hungary, Spain, Indonesia, and Croatia was reported about 3.4%, 4.9%, 22.7%, 18.6%, and 8.3%, respectively (25-29). Furthermore, the prevalence of HBV infection in the same countries were reported to be about 2.4%, 1.5%, 2.6%, 5.8%, and 11.3%, respectively (25-29).…”

“…The prevalence of HCV infection in prisoners in Lebanon, Hungary, Spain, Indonesia, and Croatia was reported about 3.4%, 4.9%, 22.7%, 18.6%, and 8.3%, respectively (25-29). Furthermore, the prevalence of HBV infection in the same countries were reported to be about 2.4%, 1.5%, 2.6%, 5.8%, and 11.3%, respectively (25-29). The prevalence of HCV among prisoners in Tehran, Iran, was 34.5% in injection drug users (IDUs), which was strongly associated with female gender, length of imprisonment, and use of shared needles, drug injection frequency of more than once per day, drug usage for more than 10 years, and unmarried status (30).…”

Molecular epidemiology of HIV, HBV, HCV, and HTLV-1/2 in drug abuser inmates in central Javan prisons, Indonesia

“…Reports indicate that the highest prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections in inmates was found in a Brazilian prison (68.1%, 41%, and 13.7%, respectively) [12]. The lowest HBV and HCV prevalence reported was in an Indian jail (11.1% and 5%, respectively) [13], and the lowest HIV prevalence was seen in a prison in Hungary (0.04%) [14]. HTLV-1/2 usually is a low-prevalence infection among prisoner populations [15][16][17].…”