Hepatitis C virus infection risk factors and test uptake in an English prison

Abstract

Background: People in prison are a key demographic in the drive to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV). There is insufficient knowledge about risk factors for HCV among the prison population, which may partially explain low test uptake. Aims: This study aimed to understand the HCV risk factors present and HCV test uptake in an English prison. Methods: Men in prison were surveyed. The questions included whether they had been tested in current sentence, reasons for not being tested and risk factors for HCV. Findings: Of 109 respondents, 71% had not been tested in their current prison, 45% had not tested in their current sentence and 35% reported ever injecting drugs. Additional risk factors for hepatitis C included: sharing prison hair clippers (76%) and fighting in prison (44%). Conclusions: Not all people in prison with risk factors for HCV were tested. The role of intra-prison risks, such as fighting and sharing hair clippers, requires furtherexploration.