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Crowley, D, Murtagh, R, Cullen, W, Lambert, JS, McHugh, T and Van Hout, MC (2019) Hepatitis C Virus infection in Irish drug users and prisoners : a scoping review. BMC Infectious Diseases, 19 (702). ISSN 1471-2334
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Hepatitis C virus infection in Irish drug users and prisoners. n.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C infection is a major public health concern globally. In Ireland, like other European countries, people who use drugs (PWUD) and prisoners carry a larger HCV disease burden than the general population. Recent advances in HCV management have made HCV elimination across Europe a realistic goal. Engaging these two marginalised and underserved populations remains a challenge. The aim of this review was to map key findings and identify gaps in the literature (published and unpublished) on HCV infection in Irish PWUD and prisoners.Methods: A scoping review guided by the methodological framework set out by Levac and colleagues (based on previous work by Arksey & O’Malley).Results: A total of 58 studies were identified and divided into the following categories; Epidemiology, Guidelines and Policy, Treatment Outcomes, HCV -related Health Issues and qualitative research reporting on Patients’ and Health Providers’ Experiences. This review identified significantly higher rates of HCV infection among Irish prisoners and PWUD than the general population. There are high levels of undiagnosed and untreated HCV infection in both groups. There is poor engagement by Irish PWUD with HCV services and barriers have been identified. Prison hepatology nurse services have a positive impact on treatment uptake and outcomes. Identified gaps in the literature include; lack of accurate epidemiological data on incident infection, untreated chronic HCV infection particularly in PWUD living outside Dublin and those not engaged with OST. Conclusion: Ireland like other European countries has high levels of undiagnosed and untreated HCV infection. Collecting, synthesising and identifying gaps in the available literature is timely and will inform national HCV screening, treatment and prevention strategies.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 0605 Microbiology, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1108 Medical Microbiology |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine > RA0440 Study and Teaching. Research |
| Divisions: | Public Health Institute |
| Publisher: | BioMed Central |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Mar 2019 09:15 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Sep 2021 09:33 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1186/s12879-019-4218-6 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/10447 |
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