The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74309

Vivian Griffin, BS¹, Garald Goza, MS², and Anna Satcher, MPH². (1) HIV/AIDS Surveillance, Michigan Department of Community Health, 1151 Taylor Rm. 210B, Detroit, MI 48202, (313) 876-0352, griffinv@michigan.gov, (2) Communicable Disease Epidemiology Division, Michigan Department of Community Health, 3423 North Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Lansing, MI 48909

Background: Correctional facilities house inmates who are prone to risk behaviors that may result in the acquisition of infectious diseases. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and co-infections with HIV was explored among persons entering a county jail in Detroit, MI.Methods: An anonymous unlinked serosurvey was conducted from March – August 1999. Residual blood collected for routine syphilis testing during intake was tested for HIV after identifiers were removed. Demographic and risk behavior information was abstracted from inmate’s medical record. Of 4714 specimens tested for HIV, a stratified random sub-sample of 344 was selected using age, race, sex, and HIV status and then tested for HBV surface antibody (anti-HBs), HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) and HCV antibody (anti-HCV). Analyses were adjusted for sampling weights. Results: Seroprevalence of infections were: HIV 1.8%, HCV 15.7% (anti-HCV+); 12% HBV vaccination (anti-HBc-/anti-HBs+). One (0.02%) co-infection of HCV and HIV resulted in insufficient data to characterize this population. Only 14% of the specimens were tested for HbsAg (96% negative) due to insufficient quantities. Conclusion: Similar to HIV, HCV and HBV infections result from injection drug use and sexual exposures, common among jail inmates. We found high rates of HCV and HBV infections in this county jail, and some evidence of hepatitis B vaccination. Jails present opportunities for inmates to obtain education, vaccination, testing, and substance abuse treatment services. With high inmate turnover, jails also may partner with public health to provide transition services for inmates to return successfully to their communities.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Assess prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV in correctional facilities.
• Utilize prevalence rates to determine the level of co-morbidities of HIV and viral hepatitis to devise appropriate counseling and screening measures to prevent the acquisition of susbsequent infections.
• Recognize the need for prevention and treatment programs within correctional facilities.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.