Journal Article

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Hepatitis in Men With a History of Incarceration

MacGowan, Robin, Margolis, Andrew, Flanigan, Timothy, Moss, Susan, Gaydos, Charlotte A., Eldridge, Gloria, Iqbal, Kashif, Belcher, Lisa, Sosman, James

2011

Overview

Background: Men entering correctional facilities have high rates of human immunodeficiency virus, sexually transmitted infections (STI), and hepatitis. Many prisons offer screening, treatment, and vaccination services; however, little is known about the rates of these infections in men after release to the community. Methods: Young men were recruited from prisons in Mississippi, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin as part of a human immunodeficiency virus/STI/hepatitis intervention study. Participants were offered screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), Chlamydia trachomatis, trichomoniasis, syphilis, hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) 6 months after release. Logistic regression was performed to identify associations with prevalent infections. Results: Of 248 eligible men, 178 (71.8%) participated. Their mean age was 22.5 years, and 92% reported multiple lifetime incarcerations. At 6-month postrelease, 79% reported unprotected vaginal or anal sex, and 26% tested positive for 1 or more infections (GC, 1%; C. trachomatis, 12%; trichomoniasis, 8%; syphilis, 0%; HCV, 6%; HBV, 1%). Of all, 55% were susceptible to HBV infection. Active STI (GC, C. trachomatis, or trichomoniasis) was associated with less education (odds ratios [OR], 2.25; P < 0.05). HCV infection was associated with injection drug use (OR, 69.70; P < 0.05) and being white (OR, 7.54; P < 0.05). HBV susceptibility was associated with older age (OR, 3.02; P < 0.05), more education (OR, 2.39; P < 0.05), or incarceration in Mississippi (OR, 6.69; P < 0.05) or Rhode Island (OR, 2.84; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Effective screening and prevention programs are needed for this population before and after release from custody to prevent acquisition and further transmission of these infections.

• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Anal intercourse / Biological and medical sciences / Blood diseases / Chlamydia trachomatis / Correctional institutions / Disease prevention / Drug abuse / Education / Epidemiology. Vaccinations / General aspects / Gonorrhea / Hepatitis / Hepatitis B / Hepatitis B - complications / Hepatitis B - epidemiology / Hepatitis C / Hepatitis C - complications / Hepatitis C - epidemiology / HIV / Human immunodeficiency virus / Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models / Human viral diseases / Humans / Immunization / Imprisonment / Infections / Infectious diseases / Islands / Male / Medical sciences / Medical screening / Men / Mississippi - epidemiology / Original Study / Prevention programs / Prisoners - statistics & numerical data / Prisons / Release / Rhode Island - epidemiology / Safe sexual practices / Sexually transmitted diseases / Sexually Transmitted Diseases - complications / Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology / Social programs / STD / Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications / Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology / Susceptibility / Syphilis / Tests / Trichomoniasis / Viral diseases / Viral hepatitis / Wisconsin - epidemiology / Young Adult / Young men