Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Among Prison Inmates in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Viral hepatitis is still considered a major cause of the burden of disease in India. It is the most common cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer. Prisoners are one of the groups at most risk for hepatitis. This study aimed to estimate the pooled estimates of the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among prisoners in India. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for study selection. The extensive search was done through databases of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar. All cross-sectional studies conducted to find the prevalence of hepatitis B and C among prison inmates in India published till June 2020 were screened and included in this meta-analysis. The analysis was conducted using the random-effects model. The heterogeneity was estimated using the I2 indicator. After extracting the required data, the meta-analysis was performed using the software Stata, version 12 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas). The study is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration no: CRD42020185137). Out of a total of 970 articles searched through the database of PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, five studies that met the inclusion criteria were included and analyzed. Hepatitis B and C prevalence were given in four studies each. The results showed that the overall prevalence of hepatitis B and C in prisoners was 8% (95% CI: 4-12) and 7% (95% CI: 1-13). The studies show high heterogeneity with no evidence of publication bias. The prevalence of hepatitis B and C among male prisoners was 4.48% (95% CI: 3.64%-5.32%) and 6.35% (95% CI: 5.48%-7.23%), respectively, while the prevalence among female prisoners was 1.53% (95% CI: 0.31-2.75) and 2.10% (95% CI: 0.28-3.93), respectively. The study findings show a high prevalence of hepatitis B and C in prisoners, which is of particular concern. Appropriate and effective interventions to reduce the transmission of hepatitis B and C in prisons are essential.

Retracted: Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and associated risk behaviors in prisoners: A systematic review

“…One similar systematic review conducted in India among incarcerated participants reported that the prevalence of HBV and HCV in prisoners was 8% and 7% respectively. Regarding possible gender gaps, the prevalence rate of HBV and HCV among male prisoners was 4.48% and 6.35%, respectively, while the prevalence among female prisoners was 1.53% and 2.10%, respectively 73 …”

“…Regarding possible gender gaps, the prevalence rate of HBV and HCV among male prisoners was 4.48% and 6.35%, respectively, while the prevalence among female prisoners was 1.53% and 2.10%, respectively. 73 …”

“…Regarding possible gender gaps, the prevalence rate of HBV and HCV among male prisoners was 4.48% and 6.35%, respectively, while the prevalence among female prisoners was 1.53% and 2.10%, respectively. 73 One of the studies included in our review was conducted in Italy to investigate the coinfection rates of HBV and HCV among prisoners living with HIV-1. The findings indicated a prevalence rate of 81.2%…”

Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Inmates at the Monrovia Central Prison, Liberia

“…It is noteworthy that the sample size of this study was smaller as compared to those of the Ghana and Nigeria studies cited [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In general, however, the HBV prevalence in Liberia may be truly lower, but it was higher when compared with the prevalence from similar studies conducted in Rwanda or India, which reported a prevalence of 4.3% [ 23 ] and 8% [ 24 ], respectively. Furthermore, an extremely low prevalence of 0.9% has been reported among jail inmates in the USA [ 15 ], which could be attributed to the institutionalized measures of infection prevention and control programs besides the other interventions in place in American correctional facilities [ 25 ].…”

Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Associated Factors in the Garoua Central Prison, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…spectively[17] [18][19]. But it is in contrast with the prevalence of less than 7% of HBV infection in prisoners in Ethiopia, India and Switzerland[5] [20][21].…”