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378205

Unsafe sexual practices prior to incarceration, and early childhood transmission are potential high-risk factors of Hepatitis B and HIV infection among prisoners in Blantyre, Mal

Article

Last updated: 01 Feb 2025

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Subjects

-

Tags

Medical virology

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV) are the major causes of liver diseases primarily transmitted through contact with infected blood, and body fluids. Prison settings are a significant driver of blood-borne viruses among prisoners during detention and after release. Aim: The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV among those detained at Chichiri prison. Methods: The study enrolled 220 participants [86.4% males (n=190/220), 13.6% females (n=30/220) at Chichiri prison. A structured questionnaire was used for collection of demographic details, assessment of knowledge, and risk factors for transmission of viral hepatitis in prison environment in Malawi. Serum samples were prepared and analyzed utilizing HBV, and HCV rapid assays. All positive samples were run on sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Results: The HBV prevalence was estimated at 8.6%; whereas HCV was not detected in the sample (0%). The HIV prevalence rate was 21%, and HBV/HIV co-infection prevalence was 11%. The majority (79.1%) of prisoners were incarcerated between 2017 and 2020. HBV/HIV co-infection was observed in 11% of the sample. Conclusion: This study confirms high prevalence of HBV among prisoners at Chichiri. Findings suggest that intra-prison viral hepatitis transmission was very minimal, possibly due to criminalisation of high-risk practices (injecting drug use, sex between men) for exposure to blood-borne viruses.  Sexual transmission prior to incarceration was the highest risk factor for viral hepatitis and HIV. Prison environments present both challenges and opportunities for prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis and HIV infections.

DOI

10.21608/mid.2024.308772.2121

Keywords

prisoners, inmates, prevalence, Blood-borne viral infections, Blantyre Malawi

Authors

First Name

Shakira

Last Name

Chimberenga

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Malawi., Ministry of Health, Mzuzu Central Hospital, P.O. Box 209, Mzuzu, Malawi

Email

snchimberenga@gmail.com

City

Mzuzu

Orcid

-

First Name

Vincent

Last Name

Phiri

MiddleName

Samuel

Affiliation

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Malawi.

Email

vsamuel@kuhes.ac.mw

City

Blantyre

Orcid

0000-0001-7238-7003

First Name

Anastansia

Last Name

Mgawa

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Malawi.

Email

amgawa96@gmail.com

City

Blantyre

Orcid

-

First Name

Grace

Last Name

James

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Johns Hopkins Research Project, P.O. Box 1131, Blantyre, Malawi.

Email

andrew.grace1@gmail.com

City

Blantyre

Orcid

-

First Name

Enock

Last Name

Jumbe

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Johns Hopkins Research Project, P.O. Box 1131, Blantyre, Malawi.

Email

ekjumbe@jhp.mw

City

Blantyre

Orcid

-

First Name

Marie-Claire

Last Name

Van Hout

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

VP Research, Innovation and Impact, South East Technological University, WaterfordCork Road Campus, X91 K0EK, Ireland.

Email

vpresearch@setu.ie

City

Waterford

Orcid

0000-0002-0018-4060

First Name

Mulinda

Last Name

Nyirenda

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Malawi., Ministry of Health, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, P.O. Box 95, Blantyre, Malawi

Email

mnyirenda@kuhes.ac.mw

City

Blantyre

Orcid

0000-0003-2037-7449

First Name

Isaac

Last Name

Shawa

MiddleName

Thom

Affiliation

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, P/Bag 360, Chichiri Blantyre 3, Malawi. , University of Derby, Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, Kedleston Road campus, Derby, DE22 1GB, United Kingdom.

Email

ishawa@kuhes.ac.mw

City

-

Orcid

0000-0001-5236-6467

Volume

6

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

53078

Issue Date

2025-02-01

Receive Date

2024-07-31

Publish Date

2025-02-01

Page Start

110

Page End

122

Print ISSN

2682-4132

Online ISSN

2682-4140

Article File

MID_Volume 6_Issue 1_Pages 110-122.pdf

PDF . 322.1kB

Link

https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/article_378205.html

Detail API

http://journals.ekb.eg?_action=service&article_code=378205

Order

10

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,157

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Microbes and Infectious Diseases

Publication Link

https://mid.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Unsafe sexual practices prior to incarceration, and early childhood transmission are potential high-risk factors of Hepatitis B and HIV infection among prisoners in Blantyre, Mal

Details

Type

Article

Created At

01 Feb 2025