Table 1 Patient demographics (medical records) on day of incarceration
Variable | Participants | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | n | % | Mean (SD) | |
Age (years) | 99 | 33.2 (9.1) | ||
18–24 | 13 | 13.1 | ||
25–34 | 46 | 46.5 | ||
≥35 | 40 | 40.4 | ||
Age at first incarceration (years) | 81 | 18.4(5.9) | ||
Episodes of incarceration | 80 | 6.4 (7.6) | ||
Total time incarcerated (years) | 75 | 9.9 (6.8) | ||
Age at first drug use (years) | 66 | 14.8 (2.9) | ||
Age at first heroin use (years) | 41 | 18.8 (4.9) | ||
Age at first injecting drug use (years) | 66 | 20.6 (5.7) | ||
Previous drug use (yes) | 98 | 50 | 51 | |
Visible injection site (yes) | 98 | 3 | 3.1 | |
Shared needles (yes) | 98 | 5 | 5.1 | |
Place of origin | 99 | |||
Ireland | 93 | 94 | ||
Western Europe | 1 | 1 | ||
Eastern Europe | 4 | 4 | ||
Africa | 1 | 1 | ||
Accommodation before incarceration | 71 | |||
Secure | 56 | 78.9 | ||
Homeless | 15 | 21.1 | ||
Risk factors for HCV acquisition | ||||
History of heroin use | 82 | 36 | 43.9 | |
History of injecting drug use | 82 | 32 | 39 | |
Shared needles in the community | 75 | 13 | 17.3 | |
Shared drug-taking equipment in the community | 75 | 32 | 42.7 | |
Shared razor in prison | 80 | 2 | 2.5 | |
Shared toothbrush in prison | 80 | 1 | 1.3 | |
Prison tattoo | 80 | 18 | 22.5 | |
Unsterile community tattoo | 80 | 19 | 23.8 | |
Alcohol use | ||||
Alcohol problem before incarceration | 81 | 12 | 14.8 | |
Treatment for alcohol use | 55 | 3 | 5.5 | |
Methadone maintenance treatment | ||||
History of methadone treatment | 76 | 32 | 42.1 | |
Length of time on methadone maintenance treatment | 20 | 6.3 (5.6) | ||