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Title: | Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections and their relationship to injectable drug use in a cohort of Sri Lankan prison inmates |
Authors: | Niriella, M.A. Hapangama, A. Luke, H.P.D.P. Pathmeswaran, A. Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.L.A. de Silva, H.J. |
Keywords: | Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Prevalence Sexual Behavior Substance Abuse, Intravenous Prisoners Cohort Studies |
Issue Date: | 2015 |
Publisher: | Sri Lanka Medical Association |
Citation: | The .Ceylon Medical Journal. 2015; 60(1) : pp.18-20 |
Abstract: | INTRODUCTION: Prisoners are considered to be at high risk for Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infections. This is attributed to intravenous drug use and high-risk sexual behaviour. There are no published studies on HBV and HCV among prison inmates or injecting drug users in Sri Lanka. OBJECTIVES: To determine prevalence of HBV and HCV infections, and their relationship to injectable drug use among Sri Lankan prisoners. METHODS: We investigated 393 (median age 42 years (range 16 to 93); 82% males) randomly selected inmates of Mahara and Welikada prisons. RESULTS: Though 167 (42.5%) admitted drug abuse, only 17 (4.3%) had ever used intravenous drugs. Twelve (70.6%) of them reported sharing needles. One inmate was positive for HBsAg but was negative for HBV-DNA. Twenty seven (6.9%) were positive for anti-HCV antibodies, of whom only 2 (0.5%) were positive for HCV-RNA. None of the injecting drug users were positive for HBV-DNA or HCV-RNA. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HBV and HCV infections as well as injecting drug use was very low among this cohort of Sri Lankan prisoninmates |
Description: | Indexed in MEDLINE |
URI: | http://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/8008 |
ISSN: | 2386-1274(electronic) 0009-0875 (Print) |
Appears in Collections: | Journal/Magazine Articles |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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CMJ-Niriella-2015.pdf | 240.48 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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