Back to Search
Start Over
Understanding facilitators and barriers of direct‐acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus infection in prison.
- Source :
- Journal of Viral Hepatitis; Dec2018, Vol. 25 Issue 12, p1526-1532, 7p
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Summary: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health concern. Globally, 15% of those incarcerated are HCV‐antibody positive (anti‐HCV). Even where HCV treatment is available within prisons, treatment uptake has remained low. This qualitative study was conducted to understand the barriers and facilitators for the delivery of HCV treatment in prisons from the perspectives of prisoners. This is important to inform health messaging for HCV treatment within correctional institutions. Thirty‐two prisoners (including eight women) with a history of injecting drug use participated in this qualitative study. Participants were equally recruited across four correctional centres (n = 8 per site). Overall, 16 participants (50%) had chronic HCV at their most recent test, and two participants were awaiting test results at time of interview. Structural (eg proximity of health clinic) and patient‐level (routine and motivation) factors were viewed as facilitators of HCV treatment within the prison setting. Structural (eg risk of reinfection) and social (eg lack of confidentiality and lack of social support) factors were perceived as barriers to prison‐based HCV care and treatment. In conclusion, to increase HCV treatment uptake, prison‐based programmes should implement (or advocate for) patient‐centred treatment approaches that protect privacy, provide social support, and promote access to clean needles and substitution therapy to protect prisoners from reinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- ANTIVIRAL agents
PUBLIC health
PRISONERS' health
HEPATITIS C treatment
CLINICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13520504
- Volume :
- 25
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Viral Hepatitis
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 133218507
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.12987