prevalence and risk factors for hepatitis b and hepatitis c exposure in iranian prisoners: a national study in 2016

Background: people in prisons are at high risk of hepatitis b virus (hbv) and hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection. objectives: this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hbv and hcv exposure and associated risk factors in iranian prisons. methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016, among 29 prisons in iran, blood samples were collected using multi- stage sampling. hbv and hcv diagnostic tests were conducted using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa). univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used for the evaluation of factors associated with hbv and hcv exposure. results: among 6,481 people in prisons, the prevalence of hcv and hbv antibodies were 8.21% (95% ci: 7.55 - 8.90) and 3.06% (95% ci: 2.65 - 3.50), respectively. based on multivariate analysis, the most important risks associated for hcv exposure were the history of drug use (aor 5.75, 95% ci 3.54 - 9.35) followed by the age of 30 years and older (aor: 5.02, 95% ci: 3.65 - 6.9), the history of tattooing (aor 2.42, 95% ci 1.96 - 3), the history of imprisonment (aor 2.23, 95%ci 1.76 - 2.82), being single (aor 1.91, 95% ci 1.54 - 2.37), low education (aor 1.81, 95%ci 1.01 - 3.27), and the history of piercing (aor 1.26, 95% ci 1.04 - 1.52). there was no significant association between hbv prevalence and independent variables (p > 0.05). conclusions: these findings highlight a high prevalence of hcv infection in iranian prisons. efforts are needed to improve hcv screening and interventions, particularly among people with a history of drug use, and linkage to care.