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Tattooing in prison: a risk factor for HCV infection among inmates in the Quebec's provincial correctional system
Céline Poulin1, Yohann Courtemanche1, Bouchra Serhir2
1Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Purpose:
To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and identify related risk factors among inmates in Quebec provincial prisons.
Methods:
Anonymous cross-sectional data were collected between May 2014 and March 2015 for 1315 men and 250 women who completed a questionnaire and provided oral fluid samples.
Results:
The global prevalence of HCV infection was 11.9% in male participants and 19.2% in female participants (P = .003). Among people who inject drugs (PWID), the prevalence was much higher compared to that in persons who does not: 51.0% versus 2.4% in men (P < .001) and 61.4% versus 2.8% in women (P < .001). In the multivariable analysis, lifetime history of injection drug use was the most important risk factor for HCV infection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 14.2; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 9.5-21.4), with needle sharing significantly associated with HCV among PWID (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7). Tattooing in prison was frequent, especially among men (37.2%), and independently associated with HCV infection among non-PWID (AOR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4-5.6).
Conclusion:
Inmates are at high risk for HCV infection especially because of a high proportion of active or past PWID among them. In addition, tattooing while in prison seems to contribute to HCV infection among non-PWID.