A cross-sectional study of susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases among prison entrants in New South Wales.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of susceptibility to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among New South Wales prison entrants and to compare results for prison entrants with those of a community sample.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

Between 11 October 2010 and 24 October 2010, new entrants at seven adult correctional centres completed a cross-sectional survey and provided a venous blood sample.

PARTICIPANTS

All adults entering the correctional centres were eligible to participate, with 211 completing the survey (response rate 68%).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serological evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and HBV. Prison data were compared with community data obtained from the 2007 Australian National Serosurveillance Program.

RESULTS

Over half of the participants (106/204, 52%) were susceptible to HBV, followed by susceptibility to mumps (82/198, 41%), rubella (33/209, 16%), measles (27/203, 13%) and varicella (19/198, 10%). Having no history of drug injection was a significant predictor of susceptibility to measles, mumps and HBV. Prison entrants were significantly less likely than people in the community to be susceptible to varicella (10% versus 18%; risk ratio [RR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.2) and HBV (52% versus 65%; RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Prison entrants are susceptible to a number of vaccine-preventable diseases. We recommend a cost-benefit analysis of implementing routine vaccination for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella and an exploration of options for improving uptake of HBV vaccination.