Author information
1National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: shelley.walker@curtin.edu.au.
2The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
3The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
4The International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU).
5The Hepatitis C Trust, London, England, UK.
6Bensther Development Foundation, Enugu, Nigeria.
7Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain; Clinical and Translational Research in Digestive Diseases, Valdecilla Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain.
8Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Centre, New York, USA.
9Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Abstract
Background: Carceral settings are a key focus of the 2030 WHO global hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination goals. Despite this, access to HCV testing and treatment services in prisons remains low globally, limiting opportunities to achieve these goals. Advocacy efforts are needed to address service inequities and mobilise support for enhanced HCV programs in prisons globally. INHSU Prisons, a special interest group of the International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU) is developing a Prisons HCV Advocacy Toolkit to address this need. Here we present findings of a mixed study to inform the development of the Toolkit.
Methods: The aim of this study was to inform the development of the Toolkit, including understanding barriers for scaling up prison-based HCV services globally and advocacy needs to address these. An online survey (n = 181) and in-depth interviews (n = 25) were conducted with key stakeholders from countries of different economic status globally. Quantitative data were statistically analysed using R Studio and qualitative data were analysed thematically. The data sets were merged using a convergent design.
Results: Key barriers for enhanced prison-based HCV services included lack of political will and action, lack of prison-based healthcare resources, and poor awareness about HCV and the importance of prison-based HCV services. These findings underscore how advocacy efforts are needed to motivate policymakers to prioritise HCV healthcare in prisons and ensure funds are available for services (including diagnostic tools and treatment, healthcare teams to implement services, and systems to measure their success). Advocacy resources to raise the awareness of policy makers, people working in the prison sector, and incarcerated populations were also identified as key to increasing HCV service uptake.
Conclusion: The Toolkit has the potential to support advocacy efforts for reaching HCV elimination targets. By understanding the advocacy needs of potential Toolkit end-users, the findings can inform its development and increase its accessibility, acceptability, and uptake for a globally diverse audience.