| Objectives. To estimate the prevalence and predictors of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) among inmates entering the California prisons and to assess risk behaviors associated with the predictors.; Results. Of 4,513 inmates in this study, 87.0% were male and 13.0% were female. By race/ethnicity, 34.5% were Latinas/os, 33.4% African-Americans, and 32.1% Whites. Among male inmates, 2.5% were HIV-positive, 2.2% were HBsAg-positive, 31.4% were anti-HBc-positive, and 39.4% were anti-HCV-positive. African-American men were almost twice as likely to be HIV-positive than white men (RR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.9). For male inmates, the significant independent predictors of HIV infection were being anti-HBc-positive (RR = 4.51; 95% CI, 2.92-6.97) and being African-American (RR = 2.37; 95% CI, 1.56-3.60). The significant independent predictors of HBsAg positivity were being anti-HBc-positive (RR = 26.77; 95% CI, 13.05-54.89) and being 25 years of age or younger (RR = 2.27; 95% CI, 1.18-4.37). To be anti-HCV-positive (RR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33-0.90) had a significant protective effect for HBsAg positivity. The significant independent predictors of anti-HBc positivity were being HBsAg-positive (RR = 24.02; 95% CI, 11.63-49.60), being anti-HCV-positive (RR = 10.77; 95% CI, 8.97-12.93), being HIV-positive (RR = 3.48; 95% CI, 2.04-5.91), having a previous incarceration (RR = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.16-1.66), and being African-American (RR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.02-1.50). To be 25 years of age or younger (RR = 0.30; 95% CI, 0.22-0.40) had a significant protective effect for anti-HBc positivity. The significant independent predictors of anti-HCV positivity were being anti-HBc-positive (RR = 10.64; 95% CI, 8.91-12.72) and having a previous incarceration (RR = 2.28; 95% CI, 1.92-2.70). To be African-American (RR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.29-0.41) and to be 25 years of age or younger (RR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.19-0.32) had significant protective effects for anti-HCV positivity. Among female inmates, 3.1% were HIV-positive, 1.2% were HBsAg-positive, 46.5% were anti-HBc-positive, and 53.5% were anti-HCV-positive. Latinas were more likely to be anti-HCV-positive than white women (RR = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.4). For female inmates, the significant independent predictors of HIV infection were being anti-HCV-positive (RR = 9.31; 95% CI, 2.07-41.88) and being African-American (RR = 2.75; 95% CI, 1.05-7.22). The significant predictors of anti-HBc positivity were being anti-HCV-positive (RR = 8.15; 95% CI, 5.54-12.00) and having a previous incarceration (RR = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.26-2.72). The significant independent predictors of anti-HCV positivity were being HIV-positive (RR = 9.35; 95% CI, 1.79-48.73), being anti-HBc-positive (RR = 8.10; 95% CI, 5.44-12.07), and being of Latina ethnicity (RR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.02-2.81). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
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