THE EXPERIENCE OF HEPATITIS C SCREENING AMONG PRISON INMATES WITH DRUG INJECTION HISTORY

Background: Hepatitis C is a major worldwide problem with remarkable medical burden which is emerging mostly due to intravenuos drug abuse. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection is higher among prison inmates because of the high proportion of injecting drug users. So, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalnce of hepatitis C infection among prisoners with history of intravenous drug abuse in Isfahan province-Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, active and inactvie intravenous drug abusers were enrolled into study volluntarily with ethical considerations. Participants were interviwed using a structured questionnaire and a blood sample was collected for detection HCV antibody using ELISA method. Finding: From 6000 prison inmates in Isfahn central prison and Assadabad Camp, approximatly 20 percent (1200 ones) had hsitory of intravenous drug abuse from which, 951 ones (80%) were intered in this study. The prevalenc of HCV infection was 42 percent and the main factores earned from this project experience were: problem in giving samples, problem in prison interance, separate interveiw and sample collecting, and desirable participants’ cooperation. Conclusion: According to success in obtaning nearly 80% of prison inmates with history of drug abuse, this is a good experience for other investigators and health directors to design simillar studies or executive protocols.