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Learning Objective:
By the end of this presentation participants will be able to understand factors that are important to establishing a Hepatitis B (HBV) prevention program in corrections.
Background:
Corrections inmates are risk takers, the majority of whom have used illicit drugs. Their HBV risk is greater than the general public. Most inmates will return to the community.
Providing education on prevention of blood-borne diseases and offering HBV immunization provides public health benefit for the community. This can be done efficiently during
incarceration. For over a decade, New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYSDOCS) has offered HBV immunizations to staff and to a limited number of inmates and education on prevention of blood-borne pathogens to both staff and inmates.
Setting:
NYS DOCS houses more than 63,000 inmates in 70 State prisons. On average they serve approximately 3 years but some are incarcerated for only 6 months.
Population e.g. API Youth, MSM, IDU:
Incarcerated people
Project Description:
Seroprevalence studies of markers of HBV infection provided the rate of chronic HBV infection as well as immune status. Based on the data obtained, it was decided to sero-screen inmates to determine who should be offered immunization. Systems were developed to incorporate the program into prison reception and to assure that it extends into all prisons.
Immunizations are being offered following reception and to current inmates of the system.
Results/Lessons Learned:
Partnership between corrections and public health agencies is
valuable to implementing such a project. Public health has expertise in immunization programs and corrections has a system in place to provide health care to large groups of people. Wide support makes budget authorization more likely. Partnership should link public health, jails and
prisons so that HBV immunization series are not interrupted by incarceration or release. Expanding immunization registries to adult settings such as STD clinics, jails and prisons should be considered.
See more of Poster Session #2
See more of The 2005 National Viral Hepatitis Prevention Conference