|
Title
|
|
|
|
A multicentre interventional study to assess blood-borne viral infections in Belgian prisons
| |
|
Author
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
| Background: Prevalence data on viral hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV infection in prison are often scarce or outdated. There is currently no systematic screening for these blood-borne viral infections (BBV) in Belgian prisons. There is an urgency to assess the prevalence of these BBV to inform policymakers and public healthcare. Methods: This was a multicentre, interventional study to assess the prevalence of BBV using opt-in screening in prisons across Belgium, April 2019 - March 2020. Prisoners were tested using a finger prick and BBV risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. A generalized linear mixed model was used to investigate the association between the various risk factors and HCV. Results: In total, 886 prisoners from 11 Belgian prisons were screened. Study uptake ranged from 16.9 to 35.4% in long-term facilities. The prevalence of HCV antibodies (Ab), hepatitis B surface antigen (Ag) and HIV Ab/Ag was 5.0% (44/886), 0.8% (7/886), and 0.2% (2/886). The adjusted odds for HCV Ab were highest in prisoners who ever injected (p < 0.001; AOR 24.6 CI 95% (5.5-215.2). The prevalence of detectable HCV RNA in the total cohort was 2.1% (19/886). Thirteen (68.4%) prisoners were redirected for follow-up of their HCV infection. Conclusions: Opt-in testing for viral hepatitis B, C and HIV was relatively well-accepted in prisons. Compared with the general population, prisoners have a higher prevalence of infection with BBV, especially for HCV. Systematic screening for these BBV should be recommended in all prisons, preferably using opt-out to optimize screening uptake. |
| |
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
| |
|
Source (journal)
|
|
|
|
BMC infectious diseases. - London
| |
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
London
:
2021
| |
|
ISSN
|
|
|
|
1471-2334
| |
|
DOI
|
|
|
|
10.1186/S12879-021-06405-Z
| |
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
21
:1
(2021)
, 9 p.
| |
|
Article Reference
|
|
|
|
708
| |
|
ISI
|
|
|
|
000678749900004
| |
|
Pubmed ID
|
|
|
|
34315415
| |
|
Medium
|
|
|
|
E-only publicatie
| |
|
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Full text (open access)
|
|
|
|
| |
|