Hepatitis C infection among people incarcerated in Norwegian prisons

People in prison have a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection due to the prevalent incarceration of people who inject drugs. The primary aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of HCV infection among people incarcerated in Norwegian prisons with special focus on people who inject drug (PWID).

Consecutive, newly incarcerated individuals in 6 prisons were offered to participate. Within the first two weeks of incarceration, participants were tested for anti-HCV and the presence of HCV RNA. Demographic, social and behavioral data including drug use was collected.

Among 870 participants the median age was 35 years, 10.3% (90/870) were female and 74.7% were Norwegian citizens. At inclusion, 24.9% (217/870) were on remand awaiting trial and 74.7% (650/870) had been sentenced. Injecting drug use ever was reported by 30.1% (262/870) and 71.4% (187/262) of these had injected within the last 12 months before incarceration. The anti-HCV prevalence and HCV RNA prevalence was 19.7% (171/870) and 9.3% (81/870) in all and among PWID it was 62.6% (164/262) and 30.2% (79/262), respectively. The only independent predictor of being anti-HCV positive was reporting needle sharing (adjusted OR 3.50 (1.57-7.80). HCV test at release was performed in 23 PWID. No incident case of HCV was detected.

One in ten newly incarcerated persons in Norwegian prisons had current HCV infection. Rapid testing and HCV treatment should be readily available in all prisons.