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Screening for hepatitis C virus in the Dartmoor prison population: an observational study

Screening for hepatitis C virus in the Dartmoor prison population: an observational study Background Prisons are a potential setting for hepatitis C screening. This study describes prisoner flows through such screening for all prisoners entering Dartmoor prison between 1 January 1998 and 30 June 2001.Methods We identified numbers at each step of the screening pathway, from screening to result, referral, biopsy and outcome. We describe the proportions of those screened who were seropositive; seropositives who were confirmed virus-positive; virus-positive cases attending for biopsy; and virus-positive cases eligible for treatment.Results Of 3034 entries into Dartmoor, 12 per cent were screened, with 16 per cent of these seropositive. Seventynine per cent of seropositive prisoners with a polymerase chain reaction result were confirmed virus-positive, and 27 per cent of these prisoners had a biopsy. Two prisoners were eligible for treatment.Conclusions Screening uptake is low. Attrition rates are high, especially at the referral interface between the prison and specialist care. Finally, the yield of individuals eligible for treatment is low, at 7/1000 tested. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Public Health Oxford University Press

Screening for hepatitis C virus in the Dartmoor prison population: an observational study

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References (7)

Publisher
Oxford University Press
Copyright
Journal of Public Health vol. 26 no. 4 © Faculty of Public Health 2004; all rights reserved.
ISSN
1741-3842
eISSN
1741-3850
DOI
10.1093/pubmed/fdh174
pmid
15598857
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Background Prisons are a potential setting for hepatitis C screening. This study describes prisoner flows through such screening for all prisoners entering Dartmoor prison between 1 January 1998 and 30 June 2001.Methods We identified numbers at each step of the screening pathway, from screening to result, referral, biopsy and outcome. We describe the proportions of those screened who were seropositive; seropositives who were confirmed virus-positive; virus-positive cases attending for biopsy; and virus-positive cases eligible for treatment.Results Of 3034 entries into Dartmoor, 12 per cent were screened, with 16 per cent of these seropositive. Seventynine per cent of seropositive prisoners with a polymerase chain reaction result were confirmed virus-positive, and 27 per cent of these prisoners had a biopsy. Two prisoners were eligible for treatment.Conclusions Screening uptake is low. Attrition rates are high, especially at the referral interface between the prison and specialist care. Finally, the yield of individuals eligible for treatment is low, at 7/1000 tested.

Journal

Journal of Public Health – Oxford University Press

Published: Dec 1, 2004

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