A multicentre interventional study to assess blood-borne viral infections in Belgian prisons

Abstract Background Prevalence data on viral hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV infection in prison are often scarce or outdated. There is currently no systematic screening for these blood-borne viral infections (BBV) in Belgian prisons. There is an urgency to assess the prevalence of these BBV to inform policymakers and public healthcare. Methods This was a multicentre, interventional study to assess the prevalence of BBV using opt-in screening in prisons across Belgium, April 2019 – March 2020. Prisoners were tested using a finger prick and BBV risk factors were assessed using a q... Mehr ...