AI Article Synopsis
- - The study assessed a hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening program aimed at individuals experiencing extreme social exclusion, such as the homeless and asylum seekers, conducted by a specialized outreach team in London.
- - Screening took place in temporary accommodations and involved nearly 2,500 participants, revealing a HBV prevalence of 1.7%, with a higher rate of 3.5% among those in initial accommodation centers.
- - Results showed that 56% of those diagnosed linked to care within 3 months, and interventions by peers helped reduce the loss to follow-up from 30% to 21%, indicating the effectiveness of outreach and peer support in improving HBV management.
Article Abstract
Objectives: We evaluated a hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening programme, delivered by a specialist pan-London multidisciplinary outreach team, to understand population characteristics and care cascade among people who experience extreme social exclusion (Inclusion Health (IH) groups).
Methods: Point-of-care HBV screening was performed in temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) and people seeking asylum (initial accommodation centres, IACs) via a mobile unit staffed by peers with lived experience, nurses, and doctors. We analysed demographics and HBV characteristics of adults screened between May 2020 and January 2022. We ascertained linkage-to-care (LTC), retention-in-care (RIC) and loss-to-follow-up (LTFU). People LTFU were contacted by peers to re-engage in care.
Results: 2473 people were screened: 809 in IACs, 1664 in other temporary accommodation. Overall hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) prevalence was 1.7% (43/2473), highest in IACs (3.5%, 28/809). LTC within 3 months was 56% (24/43) and RIC, 87% (26/30). LTC was higher when referred to a local IH-specialist hepatitis service, compared to other services (77%, 17/22 vs 33%, 7/21; p = 0.006). LTFU was 30% (13/43), reduced to 21% (9/43) after intervention by peers.
Conclusion: Our findings support outreach screening among IH populations and peer-supported linkage to IH-specialist hepatitis services. We recommend increased HBV testing and HBV-specific IH specialist services.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7615690 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2023.12.012 | DOI Listing |
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