Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem in the world with significant mortality and morbidity especially in Sub Saharan African and East Asian countries [1] . In 2015, WHO estimated at 71 million the number of people chronically infected by HCV worldwide [1] . About 1.75 million people newly acquire hepatitis C virus infection each year. Hepatitis C and B viruses related death is about 1.3 million every year mainly due to liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [1] .

With a general population HCV prevalence estimated at 6.5%, Cameroon is considered as one of the most affected countries in the world [2] .

Prisoners are a high risk population for infectious diseases with a high prevalence for viral hepatitis and HIV. Overall prevalence of HCV infection ranging from 0.2% to 13% has been reported by several studies in Europe [3] [4] [5] , North America [6] , Latino America [7] and Africa [8] among adult inmates. This high risk is linked to the prison setting with poor hygiene, promiscuity, malnutrition, tattooing and other forms of skin piercing, physical and moral violence, intravenous drug use, homosexuality and lack of knowledge about HCV transmission modes as reported by several authors [9] [10] . Being incarcerated for longer period or having more than one incarceration has also been associated to HCV infection [9] [11] .

In addition prisoners suffered from limited access to appropriate health care services, lack of early detection and treatment of some chronic disease could serve as reservoirs for HCV infections.

Despite the high prevalence HCV infection in Cameroon, published data on the prison setting are scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV antibodies and their associated risk factors among inmates of the New Bell central prison Douala in Cameroon.

Of the 940 prisoners included, 94.1% (884) were males and 5.9% (56) were females (Table 1). The mean age was 33.81 years (±10.35 years) with extremes of 14 and 74 years. The most represented age group was 30 - 39 years with 41.1% of cases (Table 1). Prevalence of HCV antibodies was 4.4% (40) (Table 2). Among the 940 prisoners, 60% (566) were unaware of HCV infection and risk factors for HCV transmission (Table 3).

Table 4 and Table 5 showed the Odd ratios for HCV antibodies positivity according to socio-demographic characteristics and some risk factors of HCV among new bell prison inmates in Douala. Inmates aged 50 years and above

£: percentage according to total number of patients positive for HCV antibodies; ¥: percentage according to total number of patients negative for HCV antibodies.

£: percentage according to total number of patients positive for HCV antibodies; ¥: percentage according to total number of patients negative for HCV antibodies; ¥¥: non-injectable illicit drugs were marijuana, cocaine.

were at increased risk of HCV infection (OR 4.069; 95% CI 1.9 - 8.68) (p = 0.003) as compared to younger patients. Being incarcerated for more than one time was not associated with high risk of HCV seropositivity (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.37 - 1.69) (p = 0.54). However the duration of incarceration greater than 12 months had 5.05 fold (95% CI 2.12 - 11.54) higher risk of HCV transmission. In univariate analysis, use of non-injectable illicit drugs (OR 2.87 95% CI 1.44 - 5.73) (p = 0.002) but not injectable illicit drugs (OR 1.91 95% CI 0.43 - 8.41) (p = 0.42), male homosexuality (OR 17.45 95% CI 7.58 - 40.13) (p < 0.001), sharing of needles (OR 3.45 95% CI 1.59 - 7.83) (p = 0.001) and past history of tattooing or piercing (OR 5.94 95% CI 2.80 - 12.16) (p < 0.001) were all significantly associated with HCV antibodies positivity. Nevertheless, in multivariate analysis, the use of non-injectable illicit drugs was no longer associated to HCV transmission (adjusted OR 1.87 95% CI 0.85 - 4.09) (p = 0.119).

Inmates with past history of blood transfusion had 1.55 fold (OR 1.55 95% CI 0.67 - 3.59 higher risk factor for HCV transmission but this was not significant (p = 0.32).

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem in different part of the world especially in developing countries. With an estimated overall pooled HCV seroprevalence of 6.5%, Cameroon is considered as one of the most infected countries in the world and the burden of disease varies from one group to the other [2] . Prison inmates represent one of the high risk population groups. Overcrowding in prisons and some high risk behaviours such as injecting drug use, tattooing high risk sexual behaviour are factors that could favour the transmission of infectious diseases such as viral hepatitis, HIV and other sexually transmissible diseases. Published data on prison inmates in Cameroon are rare. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with HCV antibodies positivity among prison inmates at the New Bell Central Prison Douala.

Our study population was predominantly male (94.1%) with a mean age of 33.81 ± 10.35 years. The most represented age group was that between 30 and 39 years.

The prevalence of HCV antibodies in our study population was estimated at 4.4%.The seroprevalence of HCV infection in the general population in Cameroon is still a matter of concern. Up to now no nationwide representative study has provided better estimates of the seroprevalence of HCV in the country. A recent meta-analysis on 31 studies including 36 407 individuals from different groups has reported an overall pooled HCV seroprevalence of 6.5% [2] that was higher compared to the 2.5% reported by Njouom et al. in 2018 [12] in patients aged between 15 - 59 years. In most published studies in Cameroon HCV seroprevalence is higher in older population and the low prevalence reported by Njouom et al. could be explained by the fact that they do not included patients of more than 60 years. Nevertheless, HCV seroprevalence of 4.4% reported in this study is high and could be explained by the presence of several risk factors for HCV transmission in our prison setting including homosexuality, scarifications, sharing of toiletries, both intravenous and non-intravenous drug use, history of tattooing and piercing.

About half (48.6%) of our study population admitted drug use with the non-injectable form being the most frequently used despite strict security rules instituted by the penitentiary authorities. This finding is consistent with that reported by Adjei et al. [13] in Ghana in 2006 with non-injectable drug use being the most common form of drug abuse. Only 2.7% of our study population admitted intravenous drug use before incarceration which could be explained by the scarcity and expensive nature of these drugs in our setting and similar to reports from other African prisons [8] [13] [14] . The HCV prevalence obtained in our study is however lower than that reported in European series where epidemic patterns of HCV infection related to injection drug use persists among prisoners. Dolan K et al. [15] in 2016 reported HCV prevalence’s of 20.2% in eastern Europe and central Asia region, 15.5% in west Europe and 15.3% in North America. This high prevalence’s could be attributed to high intravenous drug use with sharing of needles among prisoners in the developed world. Several authors [16] [17] [18] have reported a direct link between high HCV prevalence and intravenous drug use. Hence the absence of IVDU in our study population suggests other routes of contamination especially the sexual route.

HCV infection was significantly associated with homosexuality (p < 0.001), sharing of toiletries (p = 0.001), scarifications (p < 0.001)) and duration of incarceration (p < 0.001).

These findings are similar to those reported by Adoga et al. in 2006 in Nigeria [8] who found duration in prison to be associated with HCV transmission. In our study population, prisoners between 12 - 36 months of incarceration were more at risk for HCV transmission. Homosexuality especially among men increases by 17 folds the risk of having HCV infection. This finding is consistent with the reports from other authors [9] [19] . In the prison milieu, overcrowding and precarious conditions with increased promiscuity favours this practice which is well known as risk factor of HCV infection. Sharing of toiletries (p = 0.001), history of tattoos/piercing (p < 0.001), scarifications (p < 0.001) were also significantly associated with HCV infection. However about 60% of the study population was unaware of this means of HCV transmission.

Inmates in New Bell Central Prison accumulate risk factors for viral hepatitis C, thus contributing to the relatively high prevalence in this setting. In the aim to eradicate HCV infection, there is an urgent need to implement a viable health policy to manage high risk populations like these prisoners.

The authors thank the superintendent in charge of the New Bell central prison, the regional delegate for penitentiary administration Littoral region for the assistance during the study and all members of SOS Hépatites Douala who offered facilities in the Laboratory.

This work was carried out in collaboration between all authors. Author MK contributed in collection of data, analysis and editing the article; Author FA contributed in study conception, analysis of data and editing the article. Author DT wrote the protocol, collected data. Authors LT, AN, BE, SE, RD contributed in collection of data and revised the first draft of the manuscript. Authors ECN and ON supervised all the activities and approved the final version to be submitted for publication. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

None.

Ethical clearance was obtained from institutional ethical review board of the University of Montagne Banganté Cameroon while administrative authorization was procured from the regional delegate for penitentiary administration Littoral region and the superintendent in charge of the New Bell central prison. Prison inmates tested positive for HCV antibodies were then referred to the medical doctor in charge of the prison health service for proper management. All included inmates signed a written consent form.

Authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Kowo, M.P., Andoulo, F.A., Ngek, L.T., Sizimboue, D.T., Ndam, A.N., Ondo, B.E., Bagnaka, S.E., Djanteng, R., Ndam, E.-C.N. and Njoya, O. (2019) Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus and Associated Risk Factors among Inmates at New Bell Prison, Douala, Cameroon. Open Journal of Epidemiology, 9, 119-128. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojepi.2019.92011