HISTÓRIA DE VIDA E SITUAÇÃO DE SAÚDE NO AMBIENTE PRISIONAL DE GOIÁS: ESTUDO DA PREVALÊNCIA DE HEPATITE C EM DETENTOS.

Abstract

Hepatitis C (HCV) is considered to be an important problem of public health, affecting millions of people all over the world; it is the most frequent cause of a chronic evolution resulting in grave and long term consequences. Prisoners are currently considered to be an important group of risk for diseases like Hepatitis C due to the conditions of confinement, social margination, drug dependence, low social-economic level, and precarious conditions of medical assistance in the prison atmosphere. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of Hepatitis C among the male population of a prison complex in the State of Goiás (Brazil) to try to detect any relation between the prison atmosphere and social factors which may contribute to the risk behavior of such a population. During the period of February to September of 2004, a universe of 270 inmates answered a questionnaire, soliciting social-economic and behavioral information; they then passed through examinations for the detection of anti-HCV antibodies. The prison population sampled in the correctional facilty of Goias was composed principally of white detainees, ranging in age from 21 to 30 years of age, in legal or common-law marriages, who studied up to the fourth grade and earned an average of one minimum salary (<US$100.00) per month before prison. Of the tested prisoners, 14,8% were positive for anti-HCV antibodies; 17,5% of these presented co-infection HCV-HIV. The statistically significant risk factors observed were: age equal to or greater than 31 years of age; the use of drugs, either injected or not; tattoos; sexual relations with a drug user and the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases. These results suggest the importance of establishment a continuous health programs to make possible measures of control and prevention of HCV infection in the prison atmosphere.