AIM: Recent studies in Iran has shown that prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Iranian prisoners is high, in spite of low HCV seroprevalence in general population. METHODS: This study was carried out in the central prison of Hamedan--Iran, in year 2002. Inmates were interviewed using a standard questionnaire including demographic, imprisonment history and HCV-related risk behaviors items. Thereafter, the sera drawn from the participants were tested for anti-HIV and anti-HCV antibodies. RESULTS: A total number of 427 drug abuser inmates participated in our study. Three hundred and ninety-seven (93%) were men and 30 (7%) were women. Total number of IV drug abusers (IDA) and non-IV drug abusers (NIDA) was 149 (34.9%) and 278 (65.1%), respectively. The overall rate of antibody positivity among inmates was 0.9% for HIV and 30% for HCV. Of all IDAs, 31.5% and of NIDAs, 29.1% had serological evidence of HCV infection. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of HCV infection among drug abuser prisoners in comparison with the general population in Iran, is very high (30% vs in italics 0.2%). Our results indicate the importance of policies to prevent transmission of HCV infection during and following incarceration.
AIM: Recent studies in Iran has shown that prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Iranian prisoners is high, in spite of low HCV seroprevalence in general population. METHODS: This study was carried out in the central prison of Hamedan--Iran, in year 2002. Inmates were interviewed using a standard questionnaire including demographic, imprisonment history and HCV-related risk behaviors items. Thereafter, the sera drawn from the participants were tested for anti-HIV and anti-HCV antibodies. RESULTS: A total number of 427 drug abuser inmates participated in our study. Three hundred and ninety-seven (93%) were men and 30 (7%) were women. Total number of IV drug abusers (IDA) and non-IV drug abusers (NIDA) was 149 (34.9%) and 278 (65.1%), respectively. The overall rate of antibody positivity among inmates was 0.9% for HIV and 30% for HCV. Of all IDAs, 31.5% and of NIDAs, 29.1% had serological evidence of HCV infection. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of HCV infection among drug abuser prisoners in comparison with the general population in Iran, is very high (30% vs in italics 0.2%). Our results indicate the importance of policies to prevent transmission of HCV infection during and following incarceration.
Authors: V Martín Sánchez; V Ferrer Castro; J R Pallas Álvarez; L E Alonso Herrero; M Andrés Honorato; M J Coterillo González; L S García Marcos; J González Márquez; I Hernández Alonso; M LLanos Gallegos; E Mallada García; M L Martínez Martínez; M Morillo Pérez; I Pérez Martínez; J Valles Martínez Journal: Rev Esp Salud Publica Date: 1998 Jan-Feb
Authors: M J Alter; H S Margolis; K Krawczynski; F N Judson; A Mares; W J Alexander; P Y Hu; J K Miller; M A Gerber; R E Sampliner Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1992-12-31 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Scott A Allen; Anne C Spaulding; Albert M Osei; Lynn E Taylor; Asya M Cabral; Josiah D Rich Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2003-02-04 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Ramin Kordi; Keith Neal; Ali Akbar Pourfathollah; Mohammad Ali Mansournia; W Angus Wallace Journal: J Athl Train Date: 2011 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.860
Authors: Bruno Fernandes de Oliveira Santos; Nathalie Oliveira de Santana; Alex Vianey Callado Franca Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2011-07-07 Impact factor: 5.742