Hepatitis infection among adolescents resident in Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre: risk factors and challenges.
OBJECTIVE
To describe patterns of infection with, and risks for, hepatitis A, B and C viruses (HAV, HBV, and HCV) in male adolescents detained in the Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre (MJJC).


METHODS
A cross-sectional serosurvey for HAV, HBV, and HCV among 90 male adolescents aged 15-18 years who were resident in MJJC for more than 1 week in 1996.


RESULTS
Nine percent had been exposed to HAV, 8% were positive or equivocal for exposure to HBV, and 21% were antibody positive for HCV. All those with hepatitis markers except one positive for HAV had been injection heroin users for more than 1 year. Of those who were not HBcAb positive, only 28% were immune to HBV. For most respondents, sexual and drug-using risks began in the early teens and were associated with leaving school prematurely.


CONCLUSIONS
Respondents were vulnerable to exposure to blood-borne viruses from an early age, posing a challenge for health education programs. An opportunity exists for harm minimization and prevention of spread of blood-borne viruses within the first year of injection drug use in this population.
Melbourne Juvenile Justice Centre, Parkville, Australia.
E L
EL
Ogilvie
F
F
Veit
N
N
Crofts
S C
SC
Thompson
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D011330:Prisons; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*