Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in context

Summary: Background: Incarcerated people are at high risk of blood-borne virus infections, particularly HCV, and a priority population for elimination efforts. This national bio-behavioural survey evaluated blood-borne virus prevalence and HCV testing-and-treatment uptake amongst people in Australi...

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Main Authors: Rugiatu Bah, Yumi Sheehan, Xiaoying Li, Gregory J. Dore, Jason Grebely, Andrew R. Lloyd, Behzad Hajarizadeh, Andrew Lloyd, Rugi Bah, Charlotte Li, Marianne Byrne, Tony Butler, Bridget Musarurwa, Elmira Hooshmand, Annabeth Simpson, Meya Alrayyani, Greg Dore, Nikki Price, Melissa Groom
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002347
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author Rugiatu Bah
Yumi Sheehan
Xiaoying Li
Gregory J. Dore
Jason Grebely
Andrew R. Lloyd
Behzad Hajarizadeh
Andrew Lloyd
Behzad Hajarizadeh
Yumi Sheehan
Rugi Bah
Charlotte Li
Marianne Byrne
Tony Butler
Bridget Musarurwa
Elmira Hooshmand
Annabeth Simpson
Meya Alrayyani
Jason Grebely
Greg Dore
Nikki Price
Melissa Groom
author_facet Rugiatu Bah
Yumi Sheehan
Xiaoying Li
Gregory J. Dore
Jason Grebely
Andrew R. Lloyd
Behzad Hajarizadeh
Andrew Lloyd
Behzad Hajarizadeh
Yumi Sheehan
Rugi Bah
Charlotte Li
Marianne Byrne
Tony Butler
Bridget Musarurwa
Elmira Hooshmand
Annabeth Simpson
Meya Alrayyani
Jason Grebely
Greg Dore
Nikki Price
Melissa Groom
author_sort Rugiatu Bah
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Background: Incarcerated people are at high risk of blood-borne virus infections, particularly HCV, and a priority population for elimination efforts. This national bio-behavioural survey evaluated blood-borne virus prevalence and HCV testing-and-treatment uptake amongst people in Australian prisons. Methods: Randomly-selected participants from 23 representative prisons nationally were offered point-of-care testing for HIV and HCV (anti-HCV) antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV RNA (if anti-HCV positive). Demographic data and previous HCV testing and treatment were collected by structured interview. Findings: 1599 individuals participated (98% participation; 89%male; median age 35 years; 49% ever injected drugs). Prevalence estimates were: 31.7% (95% CI:28.8–34.8) for anti-HCV; 8.0%for HCV RNA (95% CI:6.4–9.9); 0.5% (95% CI:0.2–1.1) for HBsAg, and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4–1.7) for HIV antibody. Among participants who had ever injected drugs (n = 787), HCV RNA prevalence was highest among those injecting and sharing needles/syringes within the past month [27.9%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR):4.54 (95% CI:2.65–7.77). Among participants (n = 1599), 70.4% (95% CI: 67.4–73.2) had ever been tested for HCV (62.6% in prison). The highest likelihood of having had HCV testing was observed among participants who injected drugs in the past month (aOR = 10.37, 95% CI:5.72–0.18.78). Among those eligible (n = 318), 84.6% (95% CI:79.2–88.7) had ever received HCV treatment (75.0% in prison), and 67.8% (95% CI:61.7–73.4) were cured. The likelihood of HCV treatment was higher among those previously imprisoned, (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI:1.20–5.93). Interpretation: Despite high overall HCV testing and treatment uptake, the lower uptake and substantial ongoing HCV disease burden in some sub-populations highlights the need for continued prison-based elimination efforts with population-specific interventions. Funding: The AusHep study was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2666-6065
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
spelling doaj-art-51ed2f0f44b5417ca08c943701550a002024-11-22T07:39:10ZengElsevierThe Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific2666-60652024-12-0153101240Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in contextRugiatu Bah0Yumi Sheehan1Xiaoying Li2Gregory J. Dore3Jason Grebely4Andrew R. Lloyd5Behzad Hajarizadeh6Andrew LloydBehzad HajarizadehYumi SheehanRugi BahCharlotte LiMarianne ByrneTony ButlerBridget MusarurwaElmira HooshmandAnnabeth SimpsonMeya AlrayyaniJason GrebelyGreg DoreNikki PriceMelissa GroomThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Corresponding author. The Kirby Institute - Level 5, UNSW, Wallace Wurth Building, NSW 2052, Australia.The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaThe Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaSummary: Background: Incarcerated people are at high risk of blood-borne virus infections, particularly HCV, and a priority population for elimination efforts. This national bio-behavioural survey evaluated blood-borne virus prevalence and HCV testing-and-treatment uptake amongst people in Australian prisons. Methods: Randomly-selected participants from 23 representative prisons nationally were offered point-of-care testing for HIV and HCV (anti-HCV) antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HCV RNA (if anti-HCV positive). Demographic data and previous HCV testing and treatment were collected by structured interview. Findings: 1599 individuals participated (98% participation; 89%male; median age 35 years; 49% ever injected drugs). Prevalence estimates were: 31.7% (95% CI:28.8–34.8) for anti-HCV; 8.0%for HCV RNA (95% CI:6.4–9.9); 0.5% (95% CI:0.2–1.1) for HBsAg, and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4–1.7) for HIV antibody. Among participants who had ever injected drugs (n = 787), HCV RNA prevalence was highest among those injecting and sharing needles/syringes within the past month [27.9%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR):4.54 (95% CI:2.65–7.77). Among participants (n = 1599), 70.4% (95% CI: 67.4–73.2) had ever been tested for HCV (62.6% in prison). The highest likelihood of having had HCV testing was observed among participants who injected drugs in the past month (aOR = 10.37, 95% CI:5.72–0.18.78). Among those eligible (n = 318), 84.6% (95% CI:79.2–88.7) had ever received HCV treatment (75.0% in prison), and 67.8% (95% CI:61.7–73.4) were cured. The likelihood of HCV treatment was higher among those previously imprisoned, (aOR = 2.67, 95% CI:1.20–5.93). Interpretation: Despite high overall HCV testing and treatment uptake, the lower uptake and substantial ongoing HCV disease burden in some sub-populations highlights the need for continued prison-based elimination efforts with population-specific interventions. Funding: The AusHep study was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002347HCVHBVHIVJailPrisonEpidemiology
spellingShingle Rugiatu Bah
Yumi Sheehan
Xiaoying Li
Gregory J. Dore
Jason Grebely
Andrew R. Lloyd
Behzad Hajarizadeh
Andrew Lloyd
Behzad Hajarizadeh
Yumi Sheehan
Rugi Bah
Charlotte Li
Marianne Byrne
Tony Butler
Bridget Musarurwa
Elmira Hooshmand
Annabeth Simpson
Meya Alrayyani
Jason Grebely
Greg Dore
Nikki Price
Melissa Groom
Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in context
The Lancet Regional Health. Western Pacific
HCV
HBV
HIV
Jail
Prison
Epidemiology
title Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in context
title_full Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in context
title_fullStr Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in context
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in context
title_short Prevalence of blood-borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment in Australian prisons: the AusHep studyResearch in context
title_sort prevalence of blood borne virus infections and uptake of hepatitis c testing and treatment in australian prisons the aushep studyresearch in context
topic HCV
HBV
HIV
Jail
Prison
Epidemiology
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666606524002347
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