[Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in closed communities and risk behaviour].

AIM: To determine the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in closed communities and the relations between the risk behavior and VHB infection.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

In this study we included persons deprived of personal freedom at Bacau Correctional Facility. The subjects filled out a questionnaire, which contained identification and epidemiologic data (detention history, evaluation of the risk factors), as well as an informed consent. All subjects were tested for HBsAg.

RESULTS

According to the performed tests, the general prevalence of hepatitis B and C in this correctional facility was 15.34%, with a prevalence of hepatitis B of 10.74%. Although these figures show a higher prevalence in this population than within the general population, they are lower than the figures reported in correctional facilities from other countries.

CONCLUSIONS

The results confirm the fact that the population in correctional facilities is at high risk for hepatitis B infection, the ways of disease transmission being already known (infected blood, injected drugs, tattooing, homosexual relationships).