Factors Influencing Hepatitis C Testing Uptake in Prisons
Author Information
Author(s): Khaw Fu-Meng, Stobbart Lynne, Murtagh Madeleine J
Primary Institution: North East Health Protection Unit, Health Protection Agency, Institute of Pathology, Newcastle General Hospital
Hypothesis
What factors influence the uptake of Hepatitis C testing by prisoners?
Conclusion
The study identifies personal and institutional barriers that affect the uptake of Hepatitis C testing in prisons.
Supporting Evidence
- Personal barriers included fears and lack of knowledge about HCV.
- Only 8.5% of prisoners were reported to have taken the test.
- Prisoners expressed concerns about confidentiality and stigma associated with HCV.
- Many prisoners found the application process for testing to be a barrier.
Takeaway
Prisoners often don't get tested for Hepatitis C because they are scared, confused, or face too many rules to get tested.
Methodology
Qualitative interview study with 30 prisoners using semi-structured interviews.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the presence of a CARATS worker during interviews.
Limitations
Only five women were interviewed, and the study did not include prison personnel's views on testing barriers.
Participant Demographics
25 male and 5 female prisoners with a history of injecting drug use.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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