Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C
Conditions
Interventions
PEP Hep Prison Education Program to Improve Hepatitis B and C awareness testing and treatment.
Sponsors
University of Ghana Legon
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: • Male and female adult inmates (=18 years) who can legally provide informed consent • An inmate who has been incarcerated for 6 months and above • Inmates who are willing to provide informed consent
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: An inmate who is/has • Known to have documented chronic HBV or HCV infection prior to incarceration. • Currently undergoing treatment for HCV. • Severe cognitive impairment or mental health conditions that will hinder comprehension or informed consent. • Scheduled for transfer or release within 6 months of intervention start. • Transferred into prison after randomization. • Severe or uncontrolled psychiatric illness (e.g., active psychosis, schizophrenia, severe depression with suicidal ideation). • Acute or terminal medical condition (s) that will not allow full participation (e.g., critically ill, hospitalized, under palliative care). • Currently using medications known to interact with Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary outcome of the PEP-Hep intervention is the uptake of hepatitis B and C testing among inmates following the four-week educational program. This reflects the central goal of the intervention, to improve awareness, increase motivation, and ultimately enhance participation in HBV and HCV testing services within the prison setting. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcomes include improvements in hepatitis knowledge, testing intentions, and stigma reduction following the intervention. Additional secondary outcomes relate to the care cascade: the uptake of HCV treatment among those who test positive, HBV care linkage, and the proportion achieving HCV cure (SVR12/14) after treatment. Measures of participation in peer-led sessions and engagement with educational activities will further assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. | — |
Countries
Ghana
Contacts
Public ContactAugustina Ama Boadu
Director of Public Health Ghana Prisons
Outcome results
None listed