Best practice guidelines for viral hepatitis service delivery in prisons
Sheehan, Yumi Garg, Akhil Sheehan, Julia Maduka, Nonso Altice, Frederick L Alves da Costa, Filipa Cox, Sean Elsharkawy, Ahmed M Salah, Ehab Stoové, Mark
Sheehan, Yumi
Garg, Akhil
Sheehan, Julia
Maduka, Nonso
Altice, Frederick L
Alves da Costa, Filipa
Cox, Sean
Elsharkawy, Ahmed M
Salah, Ehab
Stoové, Mark
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Other Contributors
Publication date
2025-12-02
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Abstract
Viral hepatitis constitutes a major health burden among people living in prison globally. There is poor access to prison-based viral hepatitis services, and people living in prison are rarely prioritised for care, undermining global elimination efforts. This Review is a narrative summary of the first Global Guidelines for Viral Hepatitis Service Delivery in Prisons, which included a systematic review and an expert-led GRADE process to develop best practice recommendations for viral hepatitis management in prisons. 703 articles were included, underpinning the development of 30 recommendations across eight domains: policy, testing, treatment, continuity of care, prevention and harm reduction, education, minority populations and special considerations, and monitoring and evaluation. Quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were rated as A1 (n=5), B1 (n=7), C1 (n=10), D1 (n=7), and expert opinion (n=1). The guidelines aim to standardise a global approach to prison-based viral hepatitis elimination efforts with consistent policy, practice, and reporting.
Citation
Sheehan Y, Garg A, Sheehan J, Maduka N, Altice FL, Alves da Costa F, Cox S, Elsharkawy AM, Salah E, Stoové M, Tavoschi L, Thompson AJ, Thornton K, Lloyd AR, Cabezas J, Akiyama MJ, Kronfli N. Best practice guidelines for viral hepatitis service delivery in prisons. Lancet Infect Dis. 2025 Dec 2:S1473-3099(25)00630-9. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00630-9. Epub ahead of print.
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Article