title: Incarceration as a risk factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection in Mississippi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Injection drug use (IDU) is the most commonly recognized risk factor for co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We examined risks for HIV/HCV co-infection in a population with a low rate of IDU.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 32 HIV/HCV co-infected patients and 79 HIV-infected patients were enrolled from two clinics in Mississippi. Patients completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) assessing risks for infection with both viruses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a multivariable logistic regression model, greater age (p=.01), alcohol use (p=.02), history of incarceration (p=.04), and blood transfusion prior to 1992 (p=.03) were independently associated with HIV/HCV co-infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incarceration was significantly associated with HIV-HCV co-infection in our sample. Further examination is warranted to develop policies for HCV prevention and treatment within the prison system.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. mary.burton2@va.gov
authors.forename: Mary Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Kathleen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008922:Mississippi / Q000453:epidemiology; D011330:Prisons; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D055815:Young Adult