# name
Harm reduction and viral hepatitis C in European prisons: a
                cross-sectional survey of 25 countries

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
BACKGROUND: Current estimates suggest that 15% of all prisoners
                worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus
                (HCV), and this number is even higher in regions with high rates
                of injecting drug use. Although harm reduction services such as
                opioid substitution therapy (OST) and needle and syringe
                programs (NSPs) are effective in preventing the further spread
                of HCV and HIV, the extent to which these are available in
                prisons varies significantly across countries. METHODS: The
                Hep-CORE study surveyed liver patient groups from 25 European
                countries in 2016 and mid-2017 on national policies related to
                harm reduction, testing/screening, and treatment for HCV in
                prison settings. Results from the cross-sectional survey were
                compared to the data from available reports and the
                peer-reviewed literature to determine the overall degree to
                which European countries implement evidence-based HCV
                recommendations in prison settings. RESULTS: Patient groups in
                nine countries (36%) identified prisoners as a high-risk
                population target for HCV testing/screening. Twenty-one
                countries (84%) provide HCV treatment in prisons. However, the
                extent of coverage of these treatment programs varies widely.
                Two countries (8%) have NSPs officially available in prisons in
                all parts of the country. Eleven countries (44%) provide OST in
                prisons in all parts of the country without additional
                requirements. CONCLUSION: Despite the existence of
                evidence-based recommendations, infectious disease prevention
                measures such as harm reduction programs are inadequate in
                European prison settings. Harm reduction, HCV testing/screening,
                and treatment should be scaled up in prison settings in order to
                progress towards eliminating HCV as a public health threat.

# metadata.dc.relation.ispartof[].value
Harm Reduction Journal, 2018, vol. 15, num. 25

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Harm reduction and viral hepatitis C in European prisons: a
                cross-sectional survey of 25 countries