Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: a national multicentre study

Abstract

A national multicentre cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a sample of inmates from eight Ghanaian prisons. A total of 1366 inmates from eight of the ten regional central prisons in Ghana were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for the presence of antibodies to HCV. These data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate techniques. The median age of participants was 36.5 years (range 16–84 years). Of the 1366 inmates tested, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7 %. On multivariate analysis, the independent determinants of HCV infection were being incarcerated for longer than the median time served of 36 months [odds ratio (OR) 5.8; 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) 5.0–6.9], history of intravenous drug use (OR 4.5; 95 % CI 3.8–5.4) and homosexuality (OR 3.1; 95 % CI 2.5–3.9). Consistent with similar studies worldwide, the prevalence of HCV in prison inmates was higher than the general population in Ghana, suggesting probable transmission in prisons in Ghana through intravenous drug use and unsafe sexual behaviour.