title: Socio-demographic determinants of coinfections by HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in central Italian prisoners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The coinfections HIV/HCV/HBV are an important health issue in penitentiary communities. The aim of the study was to examine HIV, HBV and HCV coinfections determinants amongst prisoners in the jails of Southern Lazio (Central Italy), in the period 1995-2000.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis of seropositivities for HIV, HBV and HCV was made using ELISA method. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to verify the influence of socio-demographic factors on the HIV/HBV/HCV coinfections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV/HCV, HBV/HCV and HIV/HBV coinfections were detected in 42 (4%), 203 (17.9%) and 31 (2.9%) inmates, respectively. These coinfections are significantly associated with the status of drug addiction (OR = 16.02; p = 0.012; OR = 4.15; p < 0.001; OR = 23.57; p = 0.002), smoking habits (OR = 3.73; p = 0.033; OR = 1.42; p = 0.088; OR = 4.25; p = 0.053) and Italian nationality (OR = 7.05; p = 0.009; OR = 2.31; p < 0.001; OR = 4.61; p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV seropositivity in jails suggests that information and education programs for inmates could be useful to reduce the spread of such infections.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene - Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. giuseppe.latorre@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Torre
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miele
authors.forename: Giacomina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiaradia
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mannocci
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reali
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Vito
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grieco
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006678:HIV / Q000254:growth & development; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000254:growth & development; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000254:growth & development; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology