The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #74162

Huma M. Soofi, MPH¹, Nicoline Tablan, MPH², Fikirte Wagaw, MPH³, and Nanette Benbow, MAS¹. (1) Chicago Department of Public Health, Office of HIV/AIDS Surveillance - CDPH, 333 S. State Street, Room 2151, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-747-9466, maqbooh@hotmail.com, (2) STD and HIV Section, Minnesota Department of Health, 717 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, (3) Division of STD/HIV/AIDS Public Policy & Programs, Chicago Department of Public Health, 333 S. State Street, Room 2148, Chicago, IL 60604

Background: Urban jails have very rapid inmate turnover. Determining hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV coinfections in a Chicago jail may provide insight into the burden of infection in correctional facilities and communities. Methods: This study was an anonymous, unlinked serosurvey. From routine blood drawn for syphilis testing at intake, sera were collected during March and April, 2000 from 1,250 males and 1,250 females. Demographic information was abstracted from jail records. All sera were tested for HIV, and a stratified random sample of 453 specimens was tested for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), core antibody (anti-HBc), surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV). Results: The HIV seroprevalence was 2.6% (95% Confidence Interval: 2.0-3.2) and 5.7% were RPR-reactive. In weighted analysis of 453 specimens tested for viral hepatitis, 20% were anti-HBc positive, 14% anti-HCV positive and 1.1% each co-infected with HIV and HCV or HIV and anti-HBc. HIV-positive males had a significant likelihood of co-infection with either HBV (OR: 5.2, 95%CI: 1.9-14.4) or HCV (OR: 3.7, 95%CI: 1.3-10.3), whereas HIV-positive females were more likely to test reactive for HCV (OR: 4.2, 95%CI: 1.7-10.3) or RPR (OR: 6.0, 95%CI: 1.8-20.0). Non-Hispanic Blacks had a greater risk of testing HIV-positive than any other race (OR: 4.6, 95%CI: 2.2-9.9). Conclusions: Male and female jail inmates have high prevalences of HIV, HBV and HCV infection and an elevated risk of co-infection. This jail may be an appropriate venue for prevention and treatment for these infections.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Understand the importance of HIV and viral hepatitis testing in a correctional facility.
• Define groups that are at high risk of coinfection.
• Suggest effective prevention methods.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.