title: Sexually transmitted infections and hepatitis in men with a history of incarceration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Men entering correctional facilities have high rates of human immunodeficiency virus, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and hepatitis. Many prisons offer screening, treatment, and vaccination services; however, little is known about the rates of these infections in men after release to the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young men were recruited from prisons in Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin as part of a human immunodeficiency virus/STI/hepatitis intervention study. Participants were offered screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), Chlamydia trachomatis, trichomoniasis, syphilis, hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) 6 months after release. Logistic regression was performed to identify associations with prevalent infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 248 eligible men, 178 (71.8%) participated. Their mean age was 22.5 years, and 92% reported multiple lifetime incarcerations. At 6-month postrelease, 79% reported unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and 26% tested positive for 1 or more infections (GC, 1%; C. trachomatis, 12%; trichomoniasis, 8%; syphilis, 0%; HCV, 6%; HBV, 1%). Of all, 55% were susceptible to HBV infection. Active STI (GC, C. trachomatis, or trichomoniasis) was associated with less education (odds ratios [OR], 2.25; P < 0.05). HCV infection was associated with injection drug use (OR, 69.70; P < 0.05) and being white (OR, 7.54; P < 0.05). HBV susceptibility was associated with older age (OR, 3.02; P < 0.05), more education (OR, 2.39; P < 0.05), or incarceration in Mississippi (OR, 6.69; P < 0.05) or Rhode Island (OR, 2.84; P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective screening and prevention programs are needed for this population before and after release from custody to prevent acquisition and further transmission of these infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA. jms@medicine.wisc.edu
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sosman
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macgowan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: Charlotte A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gaydos
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eldridge
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flanigan
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belcher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008922:Mississippi / Q000453:epidemiology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult