Tattooing in prison: a risk factor for HCV infection among inmates in the Quebec's provincial correctional system.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and identify related risk factors among inmates in Quebec provincial prisons.

Methods: Anonymous cross-sectional data were collected between May 2014 and March 2015 for 1315 men and 250 women who completed a questionnaire and provided oral fluid samples.

Results: The global prevalence of HCV infection was 11.9% in male participants and 19.2% in female participants (P = .003). Among people who inject drugs (PWID), the prevalence was much higher compared to that in persons who does not: 51.0% versus 2.4% in men (P < .001) and 61.4% versus 2.8% in women (P < .001). In the multivariable analysis, lifetime history of injection drug use was the most important risk factor for HCV infection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 14.2; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 9.5-21.4), with needle sharing significantly associated with HCV among PWID (AOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7). Tattooing in prison was frequent, especially among men (37.2%), and independently associated with HCV infection among non-PWID (AOR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4-5.6).

Conclusion: Inmates are at high risk for HCV infection especially because of a high proportion of active or past PWID among them. In addition, tattooing while in prison seems to contribute to HCV infection among non-PWID.