Prevention of transmission of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis in prisoners

Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Stewart E. Reid, Amee Schwitters, Lucas Wiessing, Nabila El-Bassel, Kate Dolan, Babak Moazen, Andrea L. Wirtz, Annette Verster, Frederick L. Altice

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

91 Scopus citations

Abstract

The prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis are higher in prisons than in the general population in most countries worldwide. Prisons have emerged as a risk environment for these infections to be further concentrated, amplified, and then transmitted to the community after prisoners are released. In the absence of alternatives to incarceration, prisons and detention facilities could be leveraged to promote primary and secondary prevention strategies for these infections to improve prisoners health and reduce risk throughout incarceration and on release. Effective treatment of opioid use disorders with opioid agonist therapies (eg, methadone and buprenorphine) prevents blood-borne infections via reductions in injection in prison and after release. However, large gaps exist in the implementation of these strategies across all regions. Collaboration between the criminal justice and public health systems will be required for successful implementation of these strategies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1115-1126
Number of pages12
JournalThe Lancet
Volume388
Issue number10049
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 10 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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