Patricia M. Morse, PhD¹, Edward V Morse, PhD², and Alexander Calenda III, BA¹. (1) Department of Psychiatry, LSU Health Sciences Center, 1542 Tulane Ave., New Orleans, LA 70112, 504.568.6256, pmorse@lsuhsc.edu, (2) Department of Pediatrics SL-37, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112

Objective: To examine HCV-related risk factors in a young incarcerated African American IDU cohort. Methods: Incarcerated African American IDUs, ages 16-29, who were participants in a NIDA-funded study conducted in New Orleans were tested for Hepatitis C and interviewed about their demographics, incarceration history, mental health history, injection drug use history, injection practices and sexual risk behaviors using ACASSI. Results: Of 181 participants, 97% were male, average age is 24.4 years. Young IDUs who were HCV positive were more likely to: speedball (inject heroin and cocaine) (OR 4.27; 95%CI, 2.17-8.40); share syringes (OR 2.63; 95%CI, 1.40-4.95), cookers (OR 4.32; 95%CI, 2.23-8.39), cotton (OR 4.32; 95%CI, 2.18-8.58) and rinse water (OR 3.18; 95%CI, 1.64-6.19); and backload (OR 4.41; 95%CI, 1.92-10.09). IDUs with more than 1 term in jail were more likely to be HCV infected (OR 4.92; 95%CI, 1.23-19.75). Sexual risk behavior and mental health history was not significantly associated with HCV infection. Multivariate analysis indicates that controlling for high risk injection practices, inmates who were incarceration for more than 1 jail term were 3 times more likely to be HCV infected than those who were serving their first jail term (OR 3.34; 95%CI, .73-15.35. Conclusions: The data indicate that it is important to consider the co-morbidity of incarceration history as well as high risk injection behaviors in the design and implementation of HIV/HCV prevention and intervention programs targeting young incarcerated or formerly incarcerated IDUs.

Learning Objectives:

• List factors that place incarcerated individuals at risk for Hepatitis C
• Discuss HCV prevention and intervention options for jails and prisons

Keywords: Incarceration, Hepatitis C

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.