HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C IN NEW-SOUTH-WALES PRISONS - PREVALENCE AND RISK-FACTORS

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among inmates entering the New Sout h Wales correctional system and to examine risk factors for infection. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Reception Centre at Long Bay Correctional Centre, Sydney, New South Wales, June to December 1994. Participants: 408 adult male inmates received at the Reception Centre (28% of the 1450 new inmates eligible for compulsory HIV testing). Out come measures: Presence of HBV core and surface antibody and surface a ntigen; HCV antibody; risk factors; inmates' knowledge about risk fact ors. Results: 37% of inmates tested positive for HCV antibody, 31% for HBV core antibody and 3.2% for HBV surface antigen (indicating recent infection or carrier status). Among those who reported a history of i njecting illegal drugs, rates rose to 66% for HCV antibody and 43% for HBV core antibody. Prevalence of HBV and HCV antibodies was similar i n Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inmates, but HBV antigen carrier rate was significantly higher among Aboriginals (12% versus 2.2%). Knowledg e about hepatitis risk factors was poor (only 20% named injecting drug use), although recidivists were significantly better informed than th ose new to the correctional system. Multivariate analysis identified i njecting drug use, past exposure to hepatitis B virus and previous imp risonments as significant predictors for HCV infection, and age over 2 5 years and HCV antibodies for HBV infection. Conclusions: Results sug gest that about a third of adult male prisoners entering the NSW corre ctional system may have been infected with HBV or HCV. Measures such a s education about hepatitis risk factors and HBV vaccination are neede d to reduce hepatitis transmission in this population.