Prisoners favour hepatitis C testing and treatment.
More people with hepatitis C virus pass through incarcerated settings each year than any other venue. The goal of this study was to assess inmates' attitudes towards hepatitis C testing and treatment while incarcerated. We interviewed 153 male and female inmates at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC). Ninety-one per cent of inmates said they would agree to be tested for hepatitis C and 95% said that they would be willing to be treated for hepatitis C while incarcerated. Thirty-three per cent perceived themselves to be at risk for hepatitis C. Inmates were very interested in hepatitis C testing and, if indicated treatment. Inmates' attitudes towards hepatitis C testing and treatment do not pose a major obstacle to implementing comprehensive hepatitis C screening and treatment programme in correctional settings.
Vallabhaneni
S
S
Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI 02906, USA.
Macalino
G E
GE
Reinert
S E
SE
Schwartzapfel
B
B
Wolf
F A
FA
Rich
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011329:Prisoners