Prevalence of HCV and HIV antibodies and related risk factors among entrants to the main southeastern French prison

Objective To estimate the prevalence of HCV and HIV serologic markers and related factors among entrants to the main southeastern French prison. Methods During the mandatory consultation at the STD clinic of the Marseilles Prison (HIV counseling, and syphilis/HIV screening), physicians also offered HCV serologic testing to each entrant. Inmates were interviewed face to face by a physician with a standardized questionnaire. Results In total, 391 of 411 new inmates (89%) participated in the survey; 79% were male, 75% were aged 18–35 years, and 23% were injecting drug users (IDUs). Twenty per cent of the IDUs admitted that they had shared their injection equipment during the last 12 months. Of the 391 new inmates, 104 (27%) were HCV positive (91% among IDUs) but only 45 of 104 (43%) knew their seropositivity status; 23 of 389 (6%) were HIV positive (21% among IDUs). Conclusions This survey underlines the high HCV and HIV seroprevalence among entrants to French prisons, especially injecting drug users, and the high proportion of inmates at risk for these infections as well. There is an urgent need for education and screening programs in prison and also in the at-risk free-living populations.