Inside Methodologies: For Counting Blood-Borne Viruses and Injector-Inmates' Behavioural Risks -- Results From European Prisons

• NCJ Number: 195677
• Journal: Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 123-136
• Author(s): Sheila M. Bird; Michel Rotily
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This journal article addresses HIV and Hepatitis C prevalence among prisoners in Europe.

Abstract

Presenting findings from the Willing Anonymous Salivary HIV/Hepatitis C (WASH-C) surveillance studies, this article addresses HIV and Hepatitis C rates among prisoners in England, Wales, and members of the European Network. Data from nearly 9,000 male prisoners indicated that one-third had a history of injection drug use, one-half injected drugs inside prison, and one-half tested positive for Hepatitis C in saliva tests. After presenting the findings from the WASH-C study, the authors discuss the potentials for future surveillance studies. Arguing for prison medical confidentiality by stressing database linkage, randomized controls, a new WASH-C methodology to quantify Hepatitis C and injector incidence among offenders, and the auditing of prisoners’ Hepatitis B immunizations, the authors develop an international method for tracking blood-borne viruses. Tables, references