Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010
Objective: To report the prevalence of markers for HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prison entrants. Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted over 2-week periods in 2004, 2007 and 2010. Setting: Reception prisons in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Austral...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46551 |
| _version_ | 1848757590577643520 |
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| author | Reekie, J. Levy, M. Richards, A. Wake, C. Siddall, D. Beasley, H. Kumar, S. Butler, Tony |
| author_facet | Reekie, J. Levy, M. Richards, A. Wake, C. Siddall, D. Beasley, H. Kumar, S. Butler, Tony |
| author_sort | Reekie, J. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective: To report the prevalence of markers for HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prison entrants. Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted over 2-week periods in 2004, 2007 and 2010. Setting: Reception prisons in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia. Participants: Individuals entering prison from the community during the survey periods. Main outcome measure: Prevalence of anti-HIV antibody (anti-HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV). Results: The study included 1742 prison entrants: 588 (33.8%) in 2004, 536 (30.8%) in 2007 and 618 (35.5%) in 2010. The age-standardised prevalence estimates for anti-HIV, HBsAg and anti-HBc were 0.4%, 2.3% and 21.7% respectively, and remained stable over the three survey periods. The age-standardised prevalence estimate for anti-HCV was 29.0%; it decreased over time (33.3% in 2004 v 23.2% in 2010; P = 0.001), and this coincided with a decrease in prison entrants reporting injecting drug use (58.3% [343/588] in 2004 v 45.3% [280/618] in 2010; P < 0.001). Among injecting drug users, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 57.2% and did not change significantly over time. Of those who were anti-HCV positive, 33.7% (140/415) were unaware of their infection status, and 74.3% (185/249) of those who tested positive for anti-HBc reported that they had never had hepatitis B. Conclusions: HIV prevalence is low in the Australian prisoner population but transmission remains a risk. Despite a decrease in the proportion of prison entrants reporting injecting drug use, prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C has remained high. Treatment and prevention initiatives should be prioritised for this population. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:30:31Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-46551 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:30:31Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-465512017-09-13T13:39:37Z Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 Reekie, J. Levy, M. Richards, A. Wake, C. Siddall, D. Beasley, H. Kumar, S. Butler, Tony Objective: To report the prevalence of markers for HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prison entrants. Design: Cross-sectional survey conducted over 2-week periods in 2004, 2007 and 2010. Setting: Reception prisons in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia. Participants: Individuals entering prison from the community during the survey periods. Main outcome measure: Prevalence of anti-HIV antibody (anti-HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV). Results: The study included 1742 prison entrants: 588 (33.8%) in 2004, 536 (30.8%) in 2007 and 618 (35.5%) in 2010. The age-standardised prevalence estimates for anti-HIV, HBsAg and anti-HBc were 0.4%, 2.3% and 21.7% respectively, and remained stable over the three survey periods. The age-standardised prevalence estimate for anti-HCV was 29.0%; it decreased over time (33.3% in 2004 v 23.2% in 2010; P = 0.001), and this coincided with a decrease in prison entrants reporting injecting drug use (58.3% [343/588] in 2004 v 45.3% [280/618] in 2010; P < 0.001). Among injecting drug users, the prevalence of anti-HCV was 57.2% and did not change significantly over time. Of those who were anti-HCV positive, 33.7% (140/415) were unaware of their infection status, and 74.3% (185/249) of those who tested positive for anti-HBc reported that they had never had hepatitis B. Conclusions: HIV prevalence is low in the Australian prisoner population but transmission remains a risk. Despite a decrease in the proportion of prison entrants reporting injecting drug use, prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C has remained high. Treatment and prevention initiatives should be prioritised for this population. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46551 10.5694/mja13.11062 restricted |
| spellingShingle | Reekie, J. Levy, M. Richards, A. Wake, C. Siddall, D. Beasley, H. Kumar, S. Butler, Tony Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 |
| title | Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 |
| title_full | Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 |
| title_fullStr | Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 |
| title_short | Trends in prevalence of HIV infection, hepatitis B and hepatitis C among Australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 |
| title_sort | trends in prevalence of hiv infection, hepatitis b and hepatitis c among australian prisoners - 2004, 2007, 2010 |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/46551 |