SERO-PREVALENCE OF HCV AND ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS WITH HIV AND HBV AMONG PRISONERS IN LAHORE

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection and its co-infection with HIV or HBV is associated with an accelerated course of the disease and may result in more rapid progression of either or bo- th, but knowledge on these dynamics in the imprisoned is scarce particularly in the developing wo- rld. Hence in this study we evaluated the prevalence of HCV infection and its associated co-infec- tions with HBV or HIV in the prison population of Lahore. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross – sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection in prisons of Lahore (Pakistan) between May and November 2009. In this study, 4915 prisoners participated; 91.5% of them were males, and 8.5% females. Median age of prisoners was 28 years. Jail inmates were tested for serological markers – HBsAg, HCV antibodies and HIV antibodies – by chromatographic immunoassay. Initially reactive sera were retested for HBV and HCV with ELISA and for HIV with another rapid method. Results: In total, 783 (15.93%) prisoners were positive for HCV and 105 (2.13%) of all prisoners were registered having co-infection with HIV, HBV or both. Among 783 HCV positive prisoners 72 (9.19 %) had HIV co-infection, HCV / HBV co-infection was observed in 30 cases (3.83%) and triple co-infection (HCV / HBV / HIV) in three cases (0.38%). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of HCV infection is quite high in the prison population of Pakistan and is mainly complicated with HIV co-infection. It is imperative that HCV, HIV and HBV preven- tion strategies be intensified in this community.