Profile of hepatitis B and C virus infection in prisoners in Lubuk Pakam correctional facilities

Abstract

Prisoners in correctional facilities are predisposed to chronic viral infections because of their high-risk behaviors or unsafe lifestyle. The economic and public health burden of chronic hepatitis B and C and its sequelae need to be addressed, such as by finding the risk factors and therefore reducing the spread of HCV and HBV infection in prisons. This study aimed to see the profile of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection in prisoners in Lubuk Pakam Correctional Facilities. This cross-sectional study was in Lubuk Pakam Correctional Facilities in 2016. From 1114 prisoners in Lubuk Pakam correctional facility, we randomly examined 120 prisoners for HBV and HCV serology markers. From 120 prisoners, six prisoners were HBV positive, 21 prisoners were HCV positive and one prisoner positive for both HCV and HBV infection. The most common risk factors for prisoners getting HBV infection are tattoos and free sex (36.4% and 36.4%, respectively). The most common risk factors for HCV infection in prisoners are tattoos and free sex (40% and 35%, respectively).

Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viral Infections and Associated Factors Among Prisoners in Northeast Ethiopia

“…It is consistent with the reports of the study conducted among prisoners in Jimma, Ethiopia 27 and Indonesia. 51 The high seroprevalence rate among promiscuous prisoners may be the fact that HBV is sexually transmitted, and the transmission rises with the duration of sexual activity and the number of sexual partners. Tattooing is also significantly associated with the presence of HBsAg among prisoners.…”

“…Similar findings were reported from Mexico 40 and Indonesia. 51 The high prevalence rate among tattooed prisoners may be due to the sharing and reuse of instruments among inmates.…”

The Profiles of Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections in Prison-Assisted Citizens

“…This study is also in line with the previous studies in Indonesia. (Nelwan et al, 2010;Prasetyo et al, 2013;Rey et al, 2018) and in other countries, such as Iran (Behzadifar et al, 2018;Ghafari et al, 2019), Sweden (Gahrton et al, 2019), and Turkey (Keten et al, 2016). Based on the data attained from questionnaires, the prison-assisted citizens who were co-infected were once injection drug users (Table 1).…”

“…In Indonesia, the data on Hepatitis B and C prevalence are limited. Only three correctional institutions in Indonesia have reported the data, Class IIA Correctional Institution in Banceuy, Bandung City (Nelwan et al, 2010), Correctional Institution in Central Java (Prasetyo et al, 2013), and Lubuk Pakam Correctional Institution located in Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra (Rey et al, 2018). To complete the data, research dealing with HBV and HCV in prison-assisted citizens in other areas is required.…”