title: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV and risk factors in Irish prisoners: results of a national cross sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen, hepatitis C virus, and HIV in the prison population of the Republic of Ireland and to examine risk factors for infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional, anonymous, unlinked survey, with self completed risk factor questionnaire and provision of oral fluid specimen for antibody testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine of the 15 prisons in the Republic of Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  1366 prisoners, of whom 1205 (57 women) participated. In the smaller prisons all prisoners were surveyed, while in the three largest prisons one half of the population was randomly sampled. Three small prisons believed not to have a problem with injecting drug use were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen, antibodies to hepatitis C virus, and antibodies to HIV. Self reported risk factor status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen was 104/1193 (8.7%; 95% confidence interval 7.2% to 10.5%), to hepatitis C virus, 442/1193 (37%; 34.3% to 39.9%), and to HIV, 24/1193 (2%; 1.3% to 3%). The most important predictor of being positive for hepatitis B and hepatitis C was a history of injecting drug use. Thirty four women (60%) and 474 men (42%) reported ever injecting drugs. A fifth (104) of 501 injecting drug users reported first injecting in prison, and 347 (71%) users reported sharing needles in prison.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection with hepatitis C secondary to use of injected drugs is endemic in Irish prisons. Better access to harm reduction strategies is needed in this environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health and General Practice, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland. sllwrght@tcd.ie
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allwright
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Parry
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies