High frequency of HBV in HIV-infected prisoners in Mozambique
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 4 March 2019
Issue publication date: 4 March 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among 448 HIV-infected prisoners from 32 prisons in Mozambique.
Design/methodology/approach
All HIV seropositive prisoners were screened for HBV.
Findings
Of the 448 HIV seropositive prisoners, 51 (11.4 percent, 95%CI: 9.3–13.9 percent) were HBsAg-positive and was significantly higher in prisoners aged<25 years.
Originality/value
Data from this study show for the first time that the frequency of HBV among HIV-infected prisoners is high, suggesting that immediate interventions are needed during incarceration.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors declare no conflict of interest. AA, AT, CN and NS participated in the study design, patient recruitment, data collection and sample testing. AA, OA and ESG participated in data analysis and writing of the paper. All authors reviewed and approved the paper. The authors would like to thank all the prisoners who participated in this study. The authors also thank the efforts of the officers and administrative staff of the Ministry of Justice and the entire field-work team in facilitating the completion of this investigation. Also, we would like to thank the staff of the Serology Laboratory of Instituto Nacional de Saúde. This work was supported with funds from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Citation
Augusto, A., Augusto, O., Taquibo, A., Nhachigule, C., Siyawadya, N. and Gudo, E.S. (2019), "High frequency of HBV in HIV-infected prisoners in Mozambique", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 58-65. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-11-2017-0056
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited