Hepatitis C ( Hcv ) Reduce The Spread Of This Disease?

These infectious diseases include: the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Hepatitis C (McVie, 2001). Research shows that inmates are seven to ten times more likely to be carriers of HIV (McVie, 2001). Moreover, inmates are five times higher than the general population to be infected with AIDS (Krebs, 2002). Not only are these diseases spread through unsafe sex or rape, it can be implanted through needles and prison tattoos (McVie, 2001; Krebs, 2002).

Inmates within the prison system experience a vast array of medical issues. Their medical issues are costly and require medical personnel with a multitude of experience to be available to inmates. Inmate health care is more reactive than it is preventative, which results in expensive treatments. If we were to implement a more comprehensive preventative system within our prisons, we would see a drastic decline in inmate medical issues.

Overcrowding, violence, poor nutrition, unsanitary conditions, and solitary confinement are all issues that contribute to public health consequences all over the world (Cloud, 2014). Being incarcerated exposes inmates to health risks such as risky sexual behavior with little access to condoms and shared needles for drug use and tattooing (Dumont, 2012). Compared to the general population, the people that seem to be incarcerated the most seem to come from poor communities, where there seems to be higher rates of chronic diseases. For example these diseases include the higher rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, hepatitis C virus, HIV, and syphilis all occur within correctional facilities. Furthermore, when these individuals return home, correctional facilities lack in providing them with access to valuable health care services and resources, and this ultimately further exacerbates the negative consequences of their health which contributes to population health disparities. Overall, public health agencies need to play a more active role for the incarceration

The incarcerated individuals within the correctional facilities in Canada make up one of the highest risk population groups for HIV and it continues to be a significant problem within the Canadian correctional facilities (Chu, Elliott, & Canadian HIV/AIDS network, 2009). Canadian prisoners make up a substantial chunk of the individuals infected with HIV as whole, inside and outside of the prison system (Chu, Peddle, & Canadian HIV-AIDS Legal Network, 2010). The HIV rate in Canadian prisons remains relatively stable, which is good news, however, there is not a whole lot done in order to help the individuals who are infected with HIV at the moment (Public health agency of Canada, 2012). During the years of 2009 and 2010 there were 13,500 incarcerated inmates and of that population roughly 2% were infected with HIV, this did not include the individuals who have not disclosed their HIV status to prison officials; or those who are HIV positive but have not been tested for the virus (Public health agency of Canada, 2012). An article written by Bonnycastle and Villebrun, (2011) found that the CSC infectious disease surveillance system estimates that 70% of prisoners remain unscreened for HIV, because the prisoners at the highest risk for the disease are more likely to forgo the testing. Drug use is prohibited within Canadian prisons, however, it still continues to be a problem with the inmates (Correctional service of Canada, 2015). Drug use is the biggest reason that inmates are

Hepatitis C used to affect minorities in urban areas. In June 2015, an epidemic has occurred in rural Appalachia among 18-24 year old white drug users. The sharing of needles contribute to the outbreak. In parts of Indiana, 25% of the population live in poverty, making treatment options unattainable (Galofarno

In prisons across the country, there are multiple challenges being faced. One of the challenges that the inmates are facing is AIDS. The inmates are often held in unsanitary conditions in which the HIV virus is spread through the use of needle sharing, sexual contact, tattooing and sharing of razors. America has the highest rates of offenders with AIDS growing at a very alarming rate. As a result, AIDS are the number one cause of death among people who are incarcerated.

Next there are the prisoners diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Prison officials must manage the problems and health concerns associated with infected inmates. Within the prison system, not

The impact of budget cuts and a depressed economy continues to pose health care problems for jails and prisons as a whole. The high rate of disease and illness experienced in the prison population poses a threat not only to the prisoners, but to the staff and general public as well (Summary, 2007). Although society thinks of prisons and jails as self-contained, what is occurring inside finds its way to the outside. For instance, untreated staph infections, hepatitis C, and HIV can directly impact the family and friends of inmates, as well as neighborhoods and communities (Summary, 2007).

We serve a population of over 22,000 inmates in thirteen major facilities and eight work release sites. One very important disease program that we have is our HIV program. We currently have 230 males and 10 female patients that have been diagnosed with the HIV disease. The risk of transmission of the disease is very prevalent in the prison system due to the population not practicing HIV prevention. The risk of the prison population participating in homosexual activity, injection drug use, and tattooing is at an all-time high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2010, the rate of diagnosed HIV infection among inmates in state and federal prisons was more than five times greater than the rate among people who were not incarcerated (Centers for Disease, 2017). Most of the patients that have the disease in the prison system acquired it before coming to prison, but we continue to have new infections in our system each year from patients that were negative for the disease at intake.

HIV is one of the leading causes of illness in the United States. It is estimated that 1,148,200 individuals are living with HIV, with about 207,800 or 18% that are undiagnosed and 47,500 newly infected in 2010, in the United States (CDC, 2013). Although there is no cure, treatment is available through antiviral medications, but access to healthcare is often a major pitfall. Many of the behaviors that make individuals more vulnerable for HIV, such as IV drug use and illegal prostitution, also increase an individual’s vulnerability to be incarcerated. In 2010, there were 20,093 reported inmates with HIV/AIDS in custody in either state or federal prison (HIV in Prisons, 2012). Although this number has decreased since the previous census count of 20,880 individuals imprisoned in either state or federal custody, this still does not take into account the individuals that are released from prison and are required to seek a continuation of treatment on their own. “In 2012, the number of admissions to state and federal prison in the United States was 609,800 offenders. The number of releases from U.S. prisons in 2012 (637,400) exceeded that of admissions for the fourth consecutive year” (Prisoners in

Because of the risk factors involved in the correctional settings, I believe inmates should be tested for HIV. In details, Clark (2015) included the environmental and behavioral factors – overcrowding, sexually active individuals, lack of access to condoms- pose prisoners in danger of contracting HIV and other communicable diseases. In fact, Clark (2015) added that a study showed 90% juveniles engaged in HIV risk sexual activity and as much as 45% inmates were reported to be sexually assaulted. After investigating on the nature of the inmates’ situation, a population nurse should know what resources are available for them and realistic ways to treat them while incarcerated. Similar to what the Centers for Disease Prevention

Hepatitis C is a prevalent health care problem. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2016), approximately 2.7-3.9 million of the adult population in the United States is infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Some groups of people are at risk for Hepatitis C infection, including current injection drug users, people who received the blood transfusion before 1992, organ recipients from a donor who tested positive for hepatitis C virus, hemodialysis patients, and children born to a hepatitis C mother (CDC, 2016). Hepatitis C causes embarrassment and isolation from the society. Self-esteem and understanding of the

The NCCHC’s impact of health care has been to provide and improve the quality of health care of those people that are incarcerated, which is based upon human rights and the fundamental public health principles of the health of each community. The United States has a high amount of people that are incarcerated, which can lead to a higher rate of infections, mental health problems, drug abuse, and diseases. Many of the people that are incarcerated are unemployed,

After 1992 blood banks began screening the blood for the hepatics C virus. According to Dr. Palmer on page 117 she states, that it has been estimated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that almost 300,000 Americans have contracted HCV prior to the advent of screening of donated blood and blood product for HIV.

Everyday people put themselves at risk of catching a virus, but when an individual is an abuser of substances the odds of catching an infection become much higher. There are instances one may experience and brush off as not serious for example, one may assume that catching a cold poses no substantial threat to any individual as it usually passes in a week. However, if the individual is immunocompromised due to being HIV positive, even the common cold suddenly becomes deadly. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “more than 1.2 million people in the United States are living with the HIV infection” (“HIV in the US,” 2015). In addition to the HIV virus, people who abuse substances are also at risk of contracting Hepatitis C (HCV). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that there are about 3.2 million people living with a chronic infection of Hepatitis C (“Office of Population affairs,” 2012).