This project will use HCV surveillance data to describe the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people incarcerated in state prisons in Pennsylvania, United States.

Project Collaborators External

• Dr Timothy P Flanigan Brown University and The Miriam Hospital
• Madeline Mahowald Brown University and The Miriam Hospital
• Dr Nicholas Scharff Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Project Supporters

Sarah Larney is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellowship (no. 1035149)

HCV is endemic amongst prisoners, but there are few recent epidemiological data on HCV among prisoners in the United States. Such data are urgently needed to inform prevention and treatment efforts in correctional settings.

To describe the epidemiology of HCV among Pennsylvania state prisoners.

Design and Method

Pennsylvania is one of few US states to undertake routine HCV antibody (anti-HCV) testing of all people entering state prisons. Data for the years 2004-2012 will be analysed to identify epidemiological trends in anti-HCV prevalence in this population.

Benefits

The findings of this project will inform prison HCV screening and treatment policies and clinical practices.

Findings

18% of Pennsylvanian state prisoners were anti-HCV positive. Women were nearly twice as likely as men to be anti-HCV positive. Although anti-HCV prevalence was highest in prisoners born prior to 1960, the majority of anti-HCV positive prisoners were younger. Anti-HCV prevalence in prisoners is decreasing with time.