Prisoners are at risk for hepatitis C transmission

Butler, Tony; Kariminia, Azar; Lévy, Michaël; Kaldor, John

doi:10.1007/s10654-004-1705-9

Cited by 45 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…A seroconverter was defined as an individual who tested negative for HCV antibody in 1996 but tested positive in 2001. The measures of health status and HRQOL employed in the 1996 survey 20 were also used in the 2001 survey.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Health-Related Quality of Life in Prisoners

Thein

Butler²,

Krahn³

et al. 2006

J Urban Health

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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in prisoners represents an important public health problem. However, there is very little information about HCV-related health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We examined the effect of HCV antibody positivity, HCV viremia, and being a prisoner on prisoners'' HRQOL. Population-based health surveys incorporating HCV screening were conducted among prisoners at New South Wales (NSW), Australia, correctional centers in 1996 and 2001. HCV antibody and HCV RNA status were determined from venous blood sampling. HRQOL and mood status were assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Comparison of HRQOL scores between HCV antibody negative, HCV antibody positive/non-viremic, and HCV antibody positive/viremic and assessment of temporal change in HRQOL between 1996 and 2001 within groups were made using ANCOVA adjusting for confounders. Factors associated with HRQOL were determined in linear regression models. Analyses between HCV antibody negative (n = 423), HCV positive/non-viremic (n = 89), and HCV positive/viremic (n = 178) prisoners found no measurable effect of HCV on HRQOL, including that attributable to HCV viremia. Compared to uninfected Australian population norms, prisoners had lower HRQOL irrespective of HCV status. The prevalence of 'moderate' to 'severe' depressive symptoms was greater in the HCV antibody positive/viremic group than the HCV antibody positive/non-viremic group or the HCV antibody negative group. Selected demographic factors (age), co-morbidity, severity of depressive symptoms and medical care utilization influenced HRQOL. There was evidence to support the effect of knowledge of HCV status on HRQOL. In conclusion, our findings contrast with previous studies in non-prisoner groups in which HCV infection appears to decrease overall HRQOL. Non-HCV factors may override HCV-specific HRQOL impairment in this population. Targeted management strategies are required to improve HRQOL of prisoners.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Health-Related Quality of Life in Prisoners

Thein

Butler²,

Krahn³

et al. 2006

J Urban Health

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“…First, a high proportion of inmates are addicted to illicit drugs that are injected, and some of the convicted illicit drug users manage to continue with their habit during incarceration. 44,47 Health services for addiction management in most prisons are inadequate to cope with the demand for such treatments. Addicted inmates are less likely to benefit from health-education activities, such as counseling about drug abstinence, without parallel addiction-management interventions, such as methadone or buprenorphine maintenance treatment.…”

Section: Raphaelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prisons as Social Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus and Tuberculosis Infections

Awofeso

2010

Public Health Rep

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SynopSiSEffects of place or neighborhood-locations where individuals reside, shop, recreate, and work-have been widely studied as sources of environmental influences on individual behaviors, exposures, and physiology, as well as reference points for public health interventions. However, despite modern prisons' strong influence on the transmission and clinical outcomes of infectious diseases, custodial authorities and public health officials in many countries have yet to implement credible interventions to minimize the adverse impacts prison settings exert on the epidemiology of communicable diseases-particularly with respect to inmates. Among many vulnerable populations, prisons are evolving as one of the social institutions that determine their health status and health outcomes. This article highlights the effects of prisons in mediating the risk of hepatitis C virus and tuberculosis infections, as well as feasible interventions and policy approaches for limiting the deleterious consequences prisons exert on the transmission and clinical courses of these diseases.

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“…It has been recognised for a number of *Corresponding author. Email: RBATE@doh.health.nsw.gov.au years that hepatitis C infection is endemic in prison populations around the world (Haber et al, 1999;Skipper et al, 2003;Butler et al, 2004;Farley et al, 2005a,b;Hellard et al, 2004;Spaulding et al, 2006;Sutton et al, 2006b;Thein et al, 2006). In New South Wales, Australia, approximately 65% of female prisoners and 40Á45% of male prisoners are HCV antibody-positive.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prisons and HCV: a review and a report on an experience in New South Wales Australia

Batey

Jones

McAllister

2008

International Journal of Prisoner Health

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Prison populations in Western countries are characterised by a high hepatitis C prevalence. This reflects a high rate of imprisonment for drug related offences. Prison entrants who are HCV-negative face a significant risk of acquiring hepatitis C. Effective prevention strategies and successful treatment of a significant percentage of hepatitis C-positive inmates could reduce the risk of transmission in the prison context significantly. Several reports of treating hepatitis C in prisoners in major facilities have been published. We report our experience of establishing a liver clinic service in two regional prisons in New South Wales, Australia. Liver biopsy requirements to access treatment in Australia meant that only 46 of 196 reviewed patients were able to commence treatment in our 5-year experience. Treatment completion rate was 61% and end of treatment viral response was 57%. The removal of liver biopsy requirements in Australia in April 2006 has freed up access to treatment and our results encourage further effort to optimise the process of assessment and treatment in this high-risk population.

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Prisoners are at risk for hepatitis C transmission

Abstract: 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.

Cited by 45 publications

References 14 publications

The Effect of Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Health-Related Quality of Life in Prisoners

The Effect of Hepatitis C Virus Infection on Health-Related Quality of Life in Prisoners

Prisons as Social Determinants of Hepatitis C Virus and Tuberculosis Infections

Prisons and HCV: a review and a report on an experience in New South Wales Australia

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