Risk Behaviours for Blood-borne Viruses in a Victorian Prison

Abstract

Hepatitis B and C viruses continue to spread in Victorians at risk of incarceration. We have therefore studied risk behaviours for these infections among 51 prisoners with a history of injecting drug use (IDU) in the central Victorian prison; 33 were also interviewed about their tattooing experience. Half had injected inside prison in the preceding month, an average of 5.5 times, suggesting up to 9,000 injections p.a. in this prison. Almost all shared inadequately disinfected equipment, with no way of knowing how many had used it before. First sharing of injecting equipment had been in prison for a fifth. Almost 90% were HCV infected. Almost all had been tattooed, with 60% having had at least one while in prison, while five reported more than 50 tattoos in prison. Urgent consideration of methods to decrease these risks is necessary, including assessment of the feasibility of controversial strategies such as needle and syringe exchange programs and the provision of sterile tattooing equipment.