Scott Godfred Yawson, Aborode Abdullahi Tunde, Adesola Ridwan Olamilekan, Hope Chime Onyinye, Dipeolu Olayide, Ajibade Favour Akinfemi, Akiyode Abraham Olutumininu, Engmann Stephen Tetteh, Jamiu Abdullahi, Adetunji Awoyemi Praise-God, Agyapong Joseph, Oni Toluwalope Yinka, Denis Mpanga Derick, Ayobami Isreal Onifade, Bakre Adetolase Azizat
Department of Medical Diagnostics Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ghana.
Department of Research and Development Healthy Africans Platform Ibadan Nigeria.
Health Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 10;8(3):e70543. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.70543. eCollection 2025 Mar.
Hepatitis B is one of the major global health issues, which presents a particularly severe challenge within the confines of African prisons, characterized by high rates of transmission and limited access to adequate healthcare. The prevalence of Hepatitis B in these settings represents a silent crisis.
This research highlights the critical public health emergency posed by Hepatitis B in African prisons, underscoring the need for urgent intervention and comprehensive strategies.
A comprehensive literature search was conducted to investigate the public health challenges posed by Hepatitis B in African prisons. The search focused on peer-reviewed articles, policy documents, and original literature published from 2000 to 2024. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were utilized.
The prison environment, marked by overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and high-risk behaviors, fosters the rapid spread of Hepatitis B. The transmission is further exacerbated by limited access to vaccination, insufficient screening programs, and a lack of awareness among inmates and prison staff. Consequently, the incidence of Hepatitis B in African prisons is significantly higher than in the general population, creating a reservoir of infection that poses a broader public health threat upon prisoners' release. Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach.
This research calls for immediate and sustained action to mitigate the Hepatitis B crisis in African prisons. By prioritizing this issue within public health agendas, we can reduce transmission rates, improve health outcomes for inmates, and protect broader community health. The urgency of addressing Hepatitis B in African prisons cannot be overstated, as it represents a critical juncture in the fight against infectious diseases in marginalized populations.
乙型肝炎是全球主要的健康问题之一，在非洲监狱环境中构成了特别严峻的挑战，其特点是传播率高且获得适当医疗保健的机会有限。这些环境中乙型肝炎的流行是一场无声的危机。
本研究强调了非洲监狱中乙型肝炎所构成的重大公共卫生紧急情况，强调了紧急干预和全面策略的必要性。
进行了全面的文献检索，以调查非洲监狱中乙型肝炎所带来的公共卫生挑战。检索重点是2000年至2024年发表的同行评审文章、政策文件和原始文献。使用了包括PubMed、Scopus、科学网和谷歌学术在内的数据库。
监狱环境以过度拥挤、卫生条件差和高风险行为为特征，助长了乙型肝炎的迅速传播。获得疫苗接种的机会有限、筛查计划不足以及囚犯和监狱工作人员缺乏认识，进一步加剧了传播。因此，非洲监狱中乙型肝炎的发病率明显高于普通人群，形成了一个感染源，在囚犯获释后对更广泛的公共卫生构成威胁。应对这一危机需要采取多方面的方法。
本研究呼吁立即采取持续行动，以缓解非洲监狱中的乙型肝炎危机。通过在公共卫生议程中优先考虑这一问题，我们可以降低传播率，改善囚犯的健康状况，并保护更广泛社区的健康。解决非洲监狱中乙型肝炎问题的紧迫性再怎么强调也不为过，因为这是在边缘化人群中抗击传染病斗争的一个关键时刻。
