Hepatitis C virus exposure prevalence and associated factors among incarcerated individuals in Central-West Brazil.

Incarcerated populations are disproportionately affected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to overlapping social, structural, and behavioral vulnerabilities. However, epidemiological data from some regions in Brazil, a continental country, remain scarce. Therefore, this study estimated the HCV exposure prevalence and identified associated factors among inmates in Goiás, a state in the Central-West region of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1083 inmates from prison units in Goiás. All participants were interviewed, and their serum samples were tested for anti-HCV using ELISA and confirmed by a line immunoassay. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 2.2 % (95 % CI: 1.42-3.28). A multivariate analysis showed that age > 32 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.821; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.492-15.574; p = 0.009), history of injectable drugs use (aOR = 4.536; 95 % CI: 1.685-12.212; p = 0.003), history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs, aOR = 3.313; 95 % CI: 1.213-9.049; p = 0.019), and HBV infection (aOR = 3.147; 95 % CI: 1.052-9.411; p = 0.040) were associated with HCV exposure. These findings revealed that the anti-HCV prevalence is higher among incarcerated individuals in Goiás than in the general population in Brazil, and the use of injectable drugs as the factor with the strongest association with HCV exposure emphasized the importance of HCV transmission through the parenteral route. Additionally, the association with HBV infection and previous STIs highlights the need for integrated screening of multiple infections and ongoing surveillance for HCV within the prison environment.