A Qualitative Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Hepatitis B and C Programmes in Prisons

Emery, Heidi; Evans, Catrin; Jack, Kathryn; Martello, Elisa; Seripenah, Princella; Aiyelabegan, Fatima; Dhungana, Surakshya; Joseph, Titus; Koboto, Dirontsho; Morling, Joanne; Stewart-Evans, James; Wilson, Emma; Leonardi-Bee, Jo

Abstract

The prevalence of viral hepatitis amongst people in prisons is higher than in the general population. Screening, treatment, and vaccination programmes exist within prisons to reduce the incidence of hepatitis, although lower uptake has often been reported compared to similar programmes outside of prisons. We conducted a systematic review of qualitative evidence to explore the barriers and facilitators to hepatitis B and C reduction programmes in prisons from the perspectives of people in prison, custodial staff, and prison healthcare staff. Comprehensive searches of 5 databases were conducted in November 2023 and 28 studies included in the review. Four synthesised findings were identified: i) accurate, up-to-date knowledge of viral hepatitis disease and treatment amongst people in prison and staff is a facilitator to programme uptake, particularly when imparted by a trusted source, ii) personal subjective and relative views have a bearing on participation with the programme, iii) social interactions and relationships both within the community of people in prison and between them and staff groups influence participation in the programmes, and iv) the organisational structure of the prison and healthcare services within it affected programme participation. Recommendations derived from these findings are given to adapt viral hepatitis programmes for individual custodial settings thereby improving equitable programme access and hepatitis B and C reduction in this complex environment.

Citation

Emery, H., Evans, C., Jack, K., Martello, E., Seripenah, P., Aiyelabegan, F., Dhungana, S., Joseph, T., Koboto, D., Morling, J., Stewart-Evans, J., Wilson, E., & Leonardi-Bee, J. (2025). A Qualitative Systematic Review of Barriers and Facilitators to Hepatitis B and C Programmes in Prisons. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 32(2), Article e14049. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.14049

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Dec 1, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Dec 28, 2024
• Publication Date: 2025-02
• Deposit Date: Dec 9, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 2, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Viral Hepatitis
• Print ISSN: 1352-0504
• Electronic ISSN: 1365-2893
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 2
• Article Number: e14049
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvh.14049
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/42832092
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvh.14049