National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Univeristy of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
Eur J Epidemiol. 2010 Feb;25(2):143-8. doi: 10.1007/s10654-009-9421-0.
To determine hepatitis C incidence and the demographic and behavioural predictors in seronegative drug injecting prisoners. Prisoners in New South Wales, Australia who: were aged 18 years and over; reported IDU; had been continuously imprisoned; had a documented negative HCV antibody test result in prison in the last 12 months; provided written informed consent. Subjects were interviewed about their demographic characteristics and detailed risk factors for transmission prior to, and since, imprisonment. A blood sample was collected to screen for HCV antibodies by ELISA and RNA by PCR. Of 253 inmates recruited, 120 were continuously imprisoned and included in this analysis. Sixteen acquired HCV infection indicating an incidence of 34.2 per 100 person years (CI: 19.6-55.6). Risk factors for transmission included prior imprisonment, methadone treatment and greater than 10 years of education. Although the frequency of injecting was reduced in prison, 33.6% continued to inject drugs, most commonly methamphetamine, and 90% of these reported sharing injecting equipment. Prison inmates were at high risk of HCV infection, despite some reduction in high-risk behaviours and access to prevention services. To prevent HCV transmission in prisons, better prevention strategies are required.
为了确定在 HCV 抗体阴性的吸毒囚犯中的 HCV 发病率，以及相关的人口统计学和行为预测因素。该研究在澳大利亚新南威尔士州招募了以下囚犯：年龄在 18 岁及以上；报告有吸毒史；持续监禁；过去 12 个月内在监狱中 HCV 抗体检测结果为阴性；并提供了书面知情同意书。在入狱前和入狱后，对研究对象进行了有关其人口统计学特征和传播风险因素的详细访谈。采集血样，采用 ELISA 检测 HCV 抗体，采用 PCR 检测 RNA。在招募的 253 名囚犯中，有 120 名持续监禁并纳入了这项分析。有 16 名囚犯感染了 HCV，发病率为 34.2/100 人年（95%置信区间：19.6-55.6）。传播的危险因素包括先前监禁、美沙酮治疗和 10 年以上教育。尽管在监狱中注射毒品的频率有所下降，但仍有 33.6%的囚犯继续注射毒品，最常见的是冰毒，其中 90%的人报告共用注射设备。尽管囚犯的一些高危行为减少了，并且能够获得预防服务，但他们仍面临着 HCV 感染的高风险。为了预防监狱中的 HCV 传播，需要制定更好的预防策略。
