| Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis among prison inmates and officers at Nsawam and Accra, Ghana. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 16585647 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Although the high prevalence of blood-borne viral infections and syphilis in correctional facilities has been well documented globally, such data are sparse from Africa, and there has been no such data from Ghana. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis among prison inmates and officers at prisons in Nsawan and Accra, Ghana. Prisoners and officers in 3 of the 46 prisons in Ghana were surveyed from May 2004 to May 2005. Subjects voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for the presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, and the surface antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg). Almost 16% (3770) of the total of 23,980 prison inmates in Ghana were eligible, and 281 (7.5%) of those eligible took part, whilst almost 23% (1120) of the total of 4910 prison officers were eligible, and 82 (7.3%) of those eligible took part. For the 281 inmates tested, HIV seroprevalence was 19.2%, 17.4% had HBsAg, HCV seroprevalence was 19.2% and reactive syphilis serology was noted in 11%. For the 82 officers tested, HIV seroprevalence was 8.5%, 3.7% had HBsAg, HCV seroprevalence was 23.2% and reactive syphilis serology was noted in 4.9%. The data indicate a higher prevalence of HIV and HCV in correctional facilities (both prison inmates and officers) than in the general population in Ghana, suggesting their probable transmission in prisons in Ghana through intravenous drug use, unsafe sexual behaviour and tattooing as pertains to prisons worldwide. |
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Authors:
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Andrew A Adjei; Henry B Armah; Foster Gbagbo; William K Ampofo; Isaac K E Quaye; Ian F A Hesse; George Mensah |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of medical microbiology Volume: 55 ISSN: 0022-2615 ISO Abbreviation: J. Med. Microbiol. Publication Date: 2006 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2006-04-04 Completed Date: 2006-05-31 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0224131 Medline TA: J Med Microbiol Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 593-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Pathology, University of Ghana Medical School, College of Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana. andrewadjei50@hotmail.com |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adolescent Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Antibodies, Bacterial / blood Female Ghana / epidemiology HIV Antibodies / blood HIV Infections / epidemiology* HIV Seroprevalence Hepatitis B / epidemiology* Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood Hepatitis C / epidemiology* Hepatitis C Antibodies / blood Humans Male Middle Aged Police* Prisoners* Prisons* Seroepidemiologic Studies Syphilis / epidemiology* Treponema pallidum / immunology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Antibodies, Bacterial; 0/HIV Antibodies; 0/Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; 0/Hepatitis C Antibodies |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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J Med Microbiol. 2006 May;55(Pt 5):481-2
[PMID:
16585631
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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