Prevalence and Risk Factors of HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B and C Among Female Prisoners in Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

BackgroundFemale prisoners are at risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). There has been no previous study regarding the epidemiological status of STIs among female prisoners in Isfahan, central Iran.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of the aforementioned infections among women incarcerated in the central prison, Isfahan, to determine appropriate prevention measures.Patients and MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, all of the 163 women incarcerated in the central prison, Isfahan in 2009, were voluntarily enrolled by the census method. After completing a checklist consisting of demographic, social, and risk factors, a 5ml blood sample was taken from each individual. The sera were analyzed for markers of the hepatitis B virus (HBV; HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb), hepatitis C virus (HCV; HCV antibodies), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; HIV antibodies), and syphilis (RPR). Confirmatory tests were performed on HCV antibody-positive cases.ResultsThe mean age of the participants in the study was 34.54 ± 11.2 years old, 94.3% of these women were Iranian, and many of them had only a primary level of education. The prevalence of HBsAg, HBcAb, HBsAb, and HCV antibodies were; 1.2%, 7.4%, 12.9% and 7.4% respectively. No positive RPR or HIV antibodies were detected.ConclusionsA significant relationship was seen between the HCV antibody, drug injection and illegal sex in the women, and also between HBc-Ab and drug injection. Regular screening, educational programs, and facilitation of access to suitable treatment care should be widely implemented in the prison population. Testing for immunity against HBV should be considered on admission, and afterwards vaccination of all prisoners and an appropriate preventative approach should be applied.

Prevalence and factors associated with syphilis in a Reference Center

“…In the context of vulnerability, investigators consider some populations as more likely to acquire syphilis: individuals living in seclusion, homeless people, drug users, men who have sex with men (MSM), those co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and pregnant women [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] .…”

HIV/AIDS in prison: state of the art of scientific productions

“…the trend shown in the survey is that over the years the prevalence of HIV/AIDS increased, even with the applied interventions [18].…”

“…During the years investigated there was variation in the prevalence of cases HIV/ AIDS, the largest evidenced in 2005, where there were studied 4920 prisoners and the result was of 4.86% (239) positive cases and the lowest was in 1997 with 2022 inmates examined presenting the result was positive for 0.15% (03) [18].…”

“…However, it is understood that even in prison, the HIV-infected person is a citizen who has rights to health endorsed constitutionally and that the judicial area of rehabilitation is a key opportunity for mass strategies implementations as condom distribution, counseling reduction of risk behaviors, prevention and monitoring of antiretroviral therapy (ARt) [3,[16][17][18].…”

Ongoing transmission of HCV: Should cesarean section be justified? Data mining discovery

“…However, exposure to maternal blood can also occur with CS; accordingly, there is no reason to offer elective caesarean section to HCV-infected parturients [11][12][13][14] , with respect to special circumstances when CS is preferred to NVD, such as membranous rupture and internal fetal monitoring are confirmed to be associated with HCV transmission. CS and its complications were the main cause of death in many developing countries [15][16][17][18] . Egypt has the highest HCV prevalence worldwide; therefore, our results showed that the prevalence of HCV in a sample of Egyptian pregnant women was 2.08% (80 of 3,836 women), based on HCV Ab and PCR testing.…”