Prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among adolescents in detention.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection in a sample of detained adolescents.


METHODS
Cross-sectional prevalence study with 10- to 18-year-old adolescents who were consecutively admitted to a juvenile detention center in San Antonio, Tex.


METHODS
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and associated risk factors.


RESULTS
Of the 1002 participants, 75% were Hispanic and the mean age was 15 years. Twenty adolescents had laboratory data consistent with hepatitis C virus infection, giving an overall prevalence of 2.0% (95% confidence interval, 1.2-3.1). All adolescents infected with hepatitis C virus were Hispanic (13 boys and 7 girls). Although a high proportion of the participants reported having had intranasal drug use (55.6%), tattooing (50.5%), or body piercing (25.3%), the only factor significantly associated with hepatitis C virus infection was having a history of injection drug use. Injection drug use was reported by 5.3% of the participants but by 95% (19/20) of those infected with the hepatitis C virus.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that injection drug use was linked with the majority of hepatitis C virus infections in this population of detained adolescents, similar to findings in adults. These adolescents reported a high frequency of other behaviors that could potentially pose a risk for contracting bloodborne infections. Effective prevention and awareness programs in a detention setting need to be comprehensive and include screening, hepatitis A and B immunizations, and risk-reduction counseling.
Bair
Rita M
RM
Departments of Pediatrics and Family Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Baillargeon
Jacques G
JG
Kelly
Patricia J
PJ
Lerand
Sarah J
SJ
Williams
Janet F
JF
Lyerla
Rob
R
Alter
Miriam J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology