Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis C virus infection among male prison inmates in Maryland

Abstract
To identify incidence of antibody to hepatitis C virus among 265 male prison inmates, we assayed paired serum specimens obtained at intake in 1985–1986 with follow-up specimens in 1987. Intake prevalence was 38 percent. Seroincidence was 1.1/100 person years in prison. This finding might reflect saturation of high-risk subgroups or possibly reduced frequency of exposures following incarceration.