title: Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: a national multicentre study.
abstract: A national multicentre cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a sample of inmates from eight Ghanaian prisons. A total of 1366 inmates from eight of the ten regional central prisons in Ghana were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for the presence of antibodies to HCV. These data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate techniques. The median age of participants was 36.5 years (range 16-84 years). Of the 1366 inmates tested, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7%. On multivariate analysis, the independent determinants of HCV infection were being incarcerated for longer than the median time served of 36 months [odds ratio (OR) 5.8; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 5.0-6.9], history of intravenous drug use (OR 4.5; 95% CI 3.8-5.4) and homosexuality (OR 3.1; 95% CI 2.5-3.9). Consistent with similar studies worldwide, the prevalence of HCV in prison inmates was higher than the general population in Ghana, suggesting probable transmission in prisons in Ghana through intravenous drug use and unsafe sexual behaviour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adjei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.|Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Henry B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Armah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Foster
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gbagbo
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ampofo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Isaac K E
authors.initials: IKE
authors.lastname: Quaye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Ian F A
authors.initials: IFA
authors.lastname: Hesse
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mensah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies