Prisoners' attitudes toward Hepatitis B vaccination

• Published in: Preventive medicine Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 828 - 833
• Main Authors: Vallabhaneni, Snigdha, Macalino, Grace E, Reinert, Steven E, Schwartzapfel, Beth, Wolf, Francis A, Rich, Josiah D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B - transmission; Hepatitis B vaccination; Hepatitis B Vaccines; Humans; Injection; Injection drug use; Male; Prisoners; Prisoners - psychology; Random Allocation; Rhode Island; Risk Factors; Sexual risk; Sexually transmitted disease; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaccine acceptance; Rhode Island; Injection drug use; Sexually transmitted disease; Vaccine acceptance; Hepatitis B vaccination; Sexual risk; Injection; Prisoners
• ISSN: 0091-7435; 1096-0260
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2003.12.024

Background. Hepatitis B continues to be a substantial problem in the United States despite the existence of a safe and effective vaccine. Vaccination programs for inmates could reach many high-risk individuals but little is known about U.S. inmates' willingness to accept hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination while incarcerated. The goal of this study was to assess inmates' knowledge about hepatitis B and their willingness to accept hepatitis B vaccination while incarcerated. Methods. We interviewed 153 male and female inmates at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) using a voluntary, anonymous survey. Results. Ninety-three percent of inmates said they would agree to receive the hepatitis B vaccine while incarcerated. More than half of the 30% who reported having risk factors for hepatitis B did not consider themselves to be at risk for hepatitis B and almost half (44%) of all inmates were not aware that hepatitis B can be transmitted through unprotected sex. Conclusion. Hepatitis B vaccination programs in correctional settings are a public health priority and would be well received by the target population. Such programs would help protect the health of incarcerated persons and the communities to which they return.