The results of a census survey of 1205 Irish prisoners, published in August 1999, showed that the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B was 9%, the prevalence of infection with hepatitis C was 37%, and the prevalence of infection with HIV was 2%. The current report presents the results of a survey of committal prisoners. The reason the committal survey was undertaken was to ensure adequate representation of short-term prisoners, and to determine if the prevalence of the infections differed in committal prisoners from that found in 'resident' prisoners. Five of the seven Irish committal prisons were included in the survey. A total of 607 prisoners took part in the survey, a response rate of 96%. The survey consisted of completing a four page questionnaire and collecting a sample of oral fluid for testing for antibodies to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. The fieldwork was carried out between 6th April and 1st May 1999.

Overall the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B among committal prisoners was 6%, the prevalence of infection with hepatitis C was 37% and the prevalence of HIV was 2%. Almost one quarter (140/596) of the committal prisoners tested and evidence of at least one of the three infections. Prevalence in women prisoners was significantly higher: 22% for hepatitis B, 56% for hepatitis C, and 10% for HIV. Prevalence was also higher among drug users (18% for hepatitis B, 72% for hepatitis C, and 6% for HIV) and in the Dublin prisons. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that injecting drug use was by far the most important predictor of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infection. Female gender was an independent risk factor for all three infections. Reporting treatment for sexually transmitted infection, and increasing time spent in prison, were also associated with higher rates of hepatitis C. Among injecting drug users, sharing needles in prison and high frequencies of injecting in the previous month were linked to increased risk of hepatitis C infection. The prevalence of HIV was higher in those who had spent more than three of the last 10 years in prisons.