Incarceration as a risk factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection in Mississippi.
Injection drug use (IDU) is the most commonly recognized risk factor for co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). We examined risks for HIV/HCV co-infection in a population with a low rate of IDU. A sample of 32 HIV/HCV co-infected patients and 79 HIV-infected patients were enrolled from two clinics in Mississippi. Patients completed an audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) assessing risks for infection with both viruses. In a multivariable logistic regression model, greater age (p=.01), alcohol use (p=.02), history of incarceration (p=.04), and blood transfusion prior to 1992 (p=.03) were independently associated with HIV/HCV co-infection. Incarceration was significantly associated with HIV-HCV co-infection in our sample. Further examination is warranted to develop policies for HCV prevention and treatment within the prison system.