Disparities in hepatitis C care across Canadian provincial prisons: Implications for hepatitis C micro-elimination

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Delivery of hepatitis C virus (HCV) care to people in prison is essential to HCV elimination. We aimed to describe current HCV care practices across Canada’s adult provincial prisons. METHODS: One representative per provincial prison health care team (except Ontario) was invited to participate in a web-based survey from January to June 2020. The outcomes of interest were HCV screening and treatment, treatment restrictions, and harm reduction services. The government ministry responsible for health care was determined. Non-nominal data were aggregated by province and ministry; descriptive statistical analyses were used to report outcomes. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 59/65 (91%) prisons. On-demand, risk-based, opt-in, and opt-out screening are offered by 19 (32%), 10 (17%), 18 (31%), and 9 (15%) prisons, respectively; 3 prisons offer no HCV screening. Liver fibrosis assessments are rare (8 prisons access transient elastography, and 15 use aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio or Fibrosis-4); 20 (34%) prisons lack linkage to care programs. Only 32 (54%) prisons have ever initiated HCV treatment on site. Incarceration length and a fibrosis staging of ≥F2 are the most common eligibility restrictions for treatment. Opioid agonist therapy is available in 83% of prisons; needle and syringe programs are not available anywhere. Systematic screening and greater access to treatment and harm reduction services are more common where the Ministry of Health is responsible. CONCLUSIONS: Tremendous variability exists in HCV screening and care practices across Canada’s provincial prisons. To advance HCV care, adopting opt-out screening and removing eligibility restrictions may be important initial strategies.