title: Epidemiology of the viral hepatitis B and C in female prisoners of Metropolitan Regional Prison Complex in the State of Goiás, Central Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little information regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among Brazilian female prisoners exists. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors associated with HBV and HCV infections and identified viral genotypes among female prisoners in Goiás, Central Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women incarcerated in the largest prison in the State of Goiás were invited to participate in the study. All female prisoners were interviewed and tested for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs), against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibody against HCV (anti-HCV) by ELISA. HBsAg and anti-HCV positive samples were tested for HBV DNA and HCV RNA and genotyped, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants (n = 148; 98.6%) completed the study with an overall HBV prevalence of 18.9%. Age >30 years, a low education level, sex with a sexually transmitted diseases carrier, and a male sexual partner serving in the same penitentiary were associated with HBV infections. Only 24% of the women were anti-HBs positive suggesting previous HBV vaccination. Nine female prisoners (6.1%) were anti-HCV positive. Age >40 years, injecting drug use and length of incarceration were statistically associated with anti-HCV antibodies. Five samples were HCV RNA positive and classified as genotypes 1 (subtypes 1a; n = 3 and 1b; n = 1) and 3 (subtype 3a; n = 1). The HBsAg-reactive sample was HBV DNA positive and genotype A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the necessity of public policies to control hepatitis B and C infections and emphasize the importance of hepatitis B vaccination in prison environments.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil.
authors.forename: Láiza Alencar Santos
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.forename: Grécia Carolina
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Pessoni
authors.forename: Sheila Araújo
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.forename: Sandra Maria Brunini de
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Marcos André de
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Regina Maria Bringel
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Nativa Helena Alves
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Del-Rios
authors.forename: Márcia Alves Dias de
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Megmar Aparecida dos Santos
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult