The burden of infectious disease among inmates of and releasees from US correctional facilities, 1997.
OBJECTIVE
This study developed national estimates of the burden of selected infectious diseases among correctional inmates and releases during 1997.


METHODS
Data from surveys, surveillance, and other reports were synthesized to develop these estimates.


RESULTS
During 1997, 20% to 26% of all people living with HIV in the United States, 29% to 43% of all those infected with the hepatitis C virus, and 40% of all those who had tuberculosis disease in that year passed through a correctional facility.


CONCLUSIONS
Correctional facilities are critical settings for the efficient delivery of prevention and treatment interventions for infectious diseases. Such interventions stand to benefit not only inmates, their families, and partners, but also the public health of the communities to which inmates return.
Hammett
Theodore M
TM
Abt Associates Inc, Cambridge, Mass 02138, USA. ted_hammett@abtassoc.com
Harmon
Mary Patricia
MP
Rhodes
William
W
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D035082:Federal Government; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009111:Local Government; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013219:State Government; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology