Prevalence and risk factors of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in a forensic population of rapists and child molesters.
The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence as well as the possible risk factors of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, in 194 male prisoners who had been convicted for rape (n = 105) or child molestation (n = 89). HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, anti-HCV and anti-HIV-1/2 were tested for. The participants also completed a standard sociodemographic questionnaire, indicating possible risk factors, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the life-time history of aggression. Anti-HIV antibodies were not found in any of the prisoners. HBsAg was found in 25 (13%), anti-HBc in 94 (49%), anti-HBs in 40 (21%) and anti-HCV in 13 (6.5%) subjects. Logistic regression analysis showed that anti-HCV positivity was associated with intravenous drug use (OR 20.7, 95% CI 1.1-4.9, P<0.001), while HBsAg positivity was associated separately with being foreign (OR 4.0, 95% CI 0.2-2.5, P<0.1), as well as with impulsiveness score (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.11, P<0.02). The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in this sex offender sample was highly increased in relation to the general population. Since it has been proved that sex offenders are a high-risk group for reoffending, monitoring their health is a necessary step towards prevention of sexually transmitted diseases being spread.
Giotakos
O
O
Psychiatry Department and Research & Prevention Unit, Tripolis' General Army Hospital, 22100 Tripolis, Greece.
Bourtsoukli
P
P
Paraskeyopoulou
T
T
Spandoni
P
P
Stasinos
S
S
Boulougouri
D
D
Spirakou
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000415:Albania / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011902:Rape; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies